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AN
EXPOSITION
OP THE
Old and New Testament:
WHEREIN
EACH CHAPTER IS SUMMED UP IN ITS CONTENTS ; THE SACRED TEXT INSERTED
AT LARGE, IN DISTINCT PARAGRAPHS; EACH PARAGRAPH REDUCED
TO ITS PROPER HEADS ; THE SENSE GIVEN,
AND LARGELY ILLUSTRATED ;
WITH
PRACTICAL REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS:
BY MATTHEW HENRY.
EDITED BY
THE REY. GEORGE BURDER, AND THE REY. JOSEPH HUGHES, A. M.
WITH THE
LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,
BY THE
REV. SAMUEL PALMER.
JFCrst IStiftCon:
TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,
A PREFACE,
BY ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER, D. D.
PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN THE SEMINARY AT PRINCETON, N. J.
VOL. II.
PHILADELPHIA :
ED. BARRINGTON & GEO. D. HASWELL
MARKET STREET.
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AN
EXPOSITION,
WITH
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS,
UPON THE
HISTORICAL BOOKS
OP THE
OLD TESTAMENT,
NAMELY,
JOSHUA,
JUDGES,
RUTH,
I. SAMUEL,
II. SAMUEL,
I. KINGS,
II. KINGS,
I. CHRONICLES,
II. CHRONICLES
EZRA,
NEHEMIAH,
AND
ESTHER.
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THE
PREFACE
TO THE
HISTORICAL BOOKS.
rip HIS methodized and practical exposition of the Historical Books ventures abroad, with fear and
trembling, in the same plain and homely dress with the former, on the Pentateuch: omari res ipsa
negat, contenta doceri — The subject requires no ornament , to have it apprehended is all. But I trust,
through grace, it proceeds from the same honest design, that is, to promote the knowledge of the scrip¬
ture, in order to the reforming of men’s hearts and lives. If I may but be instrumental to make my
readers wise and good, wiser and better, more watchful against sin, and more careful of their duty both
to God and man, and, in order to that, more in love with the word and law of God, I have all I desire,
all I aim at. May he that ministereth seed to the sower, multiply the seed sown, by increasing the fruits
of righteousness, 2 Cor. 9. 10.
It is the history of the Jewish Church and Nation, from their first settlement in the promised land,
after their four hundred and thirty years’ bondage in Egypt, and their forty years’ wandering in the wil¬
derness, to their re-settlement there, after their seventy years’ captivity in Babylon — from Joshua to
Nehemiah. The five books of Moses were taken up more with their laws, institutes, and charters; but
all these books are purely historical, and in that way of writing, a great deal of very valuable learning
and wisdom has been conveyed from one generation to another.
The chronology of this history, and the ascertaining of the times when the several events contained in
it, happened, would very much illustrate the history, and add to the brightness of it; it is therefore well
worthy the search of the curious and ingenious, and they may find both pleasure and profit in perusing
the labours of many learned men who have directed their studies that wav. I confess I could willingly
have entertained myself and reader, in this preface, with a calculation of 'the times through which this
history passes: but I consider, that such a babe in knowledge as I am, could not pretend either to add
to, or correct what has been done by so many great writers, much less to decide the controversies that
have been agitated among them. ' I had indeed some thoughts of consulting my worthy and ever-
honoured friend Mr. Tallents of Shrewsbury-, the learned author of the View of Universal History,
and to have begged some advice and assistance from him in methodizing the contents of this history; but
in the very week in which I put my last hand to this part, it pleased God to put an end to his useful life,
(and useful it was to the last,) and to call him to his rest in the eighty-ninth year of his age: so that pur¬
pose was broken off, that thought of my heart. But that elaborate performance of his, commonly called
his Chronological Tables, gives great light to this, as indeed to all other parts of history. And Dr.
Lightfoot’s Chronology of the Old Testament, and Mr. Cradock’s History of the Old Testament, metho¬
dized, may also be of great use to such readers as I write for.
As to the particular chronological difficulties which occur in the thread of this history, I have not been
large upon them; because many times I could not satisfy myself; and how then could I satisfy my reader
concerning them? I have not indeed met with any difficulties so great, but that solutions might be given
of them, which are sufficient to silence the atheists and antiscripturists, and roll away from the sacred •
records all the reproach of contradiction and inconsistency with themselves; for to do that, it is enough
to show that the difference may be accommodated either this way or that, when at the same time one
cannot satisfy one’s self which way is the right.
But it is well that these are things about which we may very- safely and very comfortably be ignorant
and unresolved. WEat concerns "nr solvation, ?« ploin pnouoAi. and we need not nerplex ourselves about
the niceties of chronology, genealogy, or chorography. At least, my undertaking leads me not into
those labyrinths. What is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in
righteousness, is what I intend to observe; and I would endeavour to open what is dark and hard to be
understood, only in order to that. Every author must be taken in his way of writing; the sacred
penmen, as they have not left us formal systems, so they have not left us formal annals, but useful narra¬
tives of things proper for our direction in the way of duty, which some great judges of common writers
have thought to be the most pleasant and profitable histories, and most likely to answer the end. The
word of God, manifesto pascit, obscuris exercet, (Aug. in Joh. Tract. 45. ) as one of the Ancients expresses
it, that is, it has enough in it that is easy, to nourish the meanest to life eternal, yet enough that is diffi¬
cult, to try the industry and humility of the greatest.
There are several things which should recommend this part of sacred writ to our diligent and constant
search.
I. That it is history ; and therefore entertaining and very pleasant, edifying, and very serviceable to
the conduct of human life. It gratifies the inquisitive with the knowledge of that which the most
intense speculation could not discover any other way. By a retirement into ourselves, and a serious con¬
templation of the objects we are surrounded with, close reasoning may advance many excellent truths
without being beholden to any other. But for the knowledge of past events, we are entirely indebted
6
PREFACE.
(and must be so) to the reports and records of others. A notion or hypothesis of a man’s own framing
may gain him the reputation of a wit, but a history of a man’s own framing will lay him under the
reproach of a cheat, any further than as it respects that which he himself is an eye or ear witness of.
How much are we indebted then to the divine wisdom and goodness for these writings, which have made
things so long since past as familiar to us as any of the occurrences of the age and place we live in!
History is so edifying, that parables and apologues have been invented to make up the deficiencies of
it, for our instruction concerning good and evil; and whatever may be said of other history, we are sure
that in this history there is no matter of fact recorded, but what has its use, and will help either to ex
pound God’s providence or guide man’s prudence.
II. That it is true history, and what we may rely upon the credit of, and need not fear being deceived
in That which the heathens reckoned tempus aSsxn, that is, which they knew nothing at all of, and
ter'fius juuQinov, that is, the account of which was wholly fabulous, is to us temfius isopmov, that is, what
we have a most authentic account of. The Greeks were with them the most celebrated historians, and
yet their successors in learning and dominion, the Romans, put them into no good name for their credi¬
bility, witness that of the poet: Et quicquid Greecia mendax audet in Historia — dll that lying Greece
has dared to record, Juv. Sat. 10. But the history which we have before us, is of undoubted certainty,
and no cunningly-devised fable. To be well assured of this is a great satisfaction, especially since we
meet with so many things in it truly miraculous, and many more great and marvellous.
III. That it is ancient history, far more ancient than was ever pretended to come from any other
hand. Homer, the most ancient genuine heathen writer now entirely extant, is reckoned to have lived at
the beginning of the Olympiads, near the time when it is computed that the city of Rome was founded
by Romulus, which was but about the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah. And his writings pretend not
to be historical, but poetical fiction all over: rhapsodies indeed they are, and the very Alcoran of
Paganism.
The most ancient authentic historians now extant are Herodotus and Thucydides, who were contem¬
poraries with the latest of our historians, Ezra and Nehemiah, and could not write with any certainty
of events much before their own time. The obscurity, deficiency, and uncertainty, of all ancient
history, except that which we find in the scripture, is abundantly made, out by the learned Bishop Stil-
lingfleet, in that most useful Book, his Origines SacrX; Lib. 1. Let the antiquity of this history not
only recommend it to the curious, but recommend to us all that way of religion it directs us in, as the
good old way, in which if we walk, we shall find rest to our souls, Jer. 6. 16.
IV. That it is church history, the history of the Jewish Church, that sacred society, incorporated for
religion, and the custody of the oratles and ordinances of God, by a charter under the broad seal of
heaven, a covenant confirmed by miracles. Many great and mighty nations there were at this time in
the world, celebrated, it is likely, for wisdom, and learning, and valour, illustrious men, and illustrious
actions; yet the records of them are all lost, either in silence or fables, while that little inconsiderable
nation of the Jews, that dwelt alone, and was not reckoned among the nations, Numb. 23. 9. makes so
gre it a figure in the best known, most ancient, and most lasting, of all histories; while no notice is taken
in it, of the affairs of other nations, except only as they fall in with the affairs of the Jews; for the
Lord's fiortion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance , Deut. 32. 8, 9. Such a concern has God
for his church in every age, and so dear have its interests been to him; let them therefore be so to us,
that we may be followers of him as dear children.
V. That it is a divine history, given by inspiration of God, and a part of that blessed book which is to
be the standing rule of our faith and practice. And we are not to think it a part of it which might have
been spared, or which we may now pass over, or cast a careless eye upon, as if it were indifferent
whether we read it or no, but we are to read it as a sacred record, preserved for our benefit on whom the
ends of the world are come.
1. This history is of great use for the understanding of some other parts of the Old Testament. The
account we have here of David’s life and reign, and especially of his troubles, is a key to many of his
Psalms. And much light is given to most of the prophecies by these histories.
2. Though we have not altogether so many types of Christ here, as we had in the history of the law
<f Moses, yet even herewe meetwith divers who were figures of Him that was to come, such as Joshua,
Samson, Solomon, Cyrus, but especially David, whose kingdom was typical of the kingdom of the Mes¬
siah and the covenant of royalty made with him, a dark representation of the covenant of redemption
made with the eternal Word; nor know we how to call Christ the son of David, unless we be acquainted
withthishistory; nor how to receive it that John Baptist was the Elias that was to come. Matt. 11. 14.
3. The state of the Jewish Church, which is here set before us, was typical of the Gospel Church,
and the state of that in the days of the Messiah; and as the prophecies which related to it, looked fur¬
ther to the latter days, so did the histories of it; and still these things happened to them for ensamples, 1
Cor. 10. 11. By the tenor of this history we are given to understand these three things concerning the
church; for the thing that hath been, is that which shall be, Eccl. 1. 9. (1.) That we are not to expect
the perfect purity and unity of the church in this world, and therefore not to be stumbled, though we
are grieved, at its corruptions, distempers, and divisions; not to think it strange concerning them, as
though some strange thing happened, much less to think the worse of its laws and constitutions for the
sake of them, or to despair of its perpetuity. What wretched stains of idolatry, impiety, and immo¬
rality, appear on the Jewish Church; and what a woful breach was there between Judah and Ephraim,
yet God took them (as I may say) with all their faults, and never wholly rejected them, till they rejected
tne Messiah. Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah, of her God, though their land was filled with
sin against the Holy One of Israel, Jer. 51. 5. (2.) That we are not to expect the constant tranquillity
and prosperity of the church. It was then often oppressed and afflicted from its youth, had its years of
servitude, as well as its days of triumph, was often obscured, diminished, impoverished, and brought
low; and yet still God secured to himself a remnant, a holy seed, which was the substance thereof, Isa.
6. 13. Let us not then be surprised to see the Gospel-Church sometimes under hatches, and driven into
the wilderness, and the gates of hell prevailing far against it. (3.) That yet we need not fear the utter
extirpation of it. The Gospel-Church is called, the Israel of God, Gal. 6. 16. and the Jerusalem
which is above. Gal. 4. 26. the heavenly Jerusalem: for as Israel after the flesh, and the Jerusalem that
then was, by the wonderful care of the divine Providence, outrode all the storms with which they were
PREFACE.
7-
tossed and threatened, and continued in being till they were made to resign all their honours to the Gos¬
pel-Church, which they were the figures of; so shall that also, notwithstanding all its shocks, be preserved,
till the mystery of God shall be finished, and the kingdom of Grace shall have its perfection in the
kingdom of Glory.
4. This history is of great use to us for our direction in the way of our duty; it was written for our
learning, that we may see the evil we should avoid, and be armed against it, and the good we should do,
and be quickened to it. Though they are generally judges, and kings, and great men, whose lives are
here written, yet in them, even those of the meanest rank may see the deformity of sin, and hate it, and
the beauty of holiness, and be in love with it; nay, the greater the person is, the more evident are both
these; for if the great be good, it is their goodness that makes their greatness honourable; if bad, their
greatness does but make their badness the more shameful. The failings even of good people are also
recorded here for our admonition, that he who thinks he stands, may take heed lest he fall; and that he
who has fallen, may not despair of forgiveness, if he recover himself by repentance.
5. This history, as it shows what God requires of us, so it shows what we may expect from his provi¬
dence, especially concerning states and kingdoms. By the dealings of God with the Jewish nation, it
appears that as nations are, so they must expect to fare; that while princes and people serve the interests
of God’s kingdom among men, he will secure and advance their interests; but that when they shake off
his government, and rebel against him, they can look for no other than an inundation of judgments. It
was so all along with Israel; while they kept close to God, they prospered; when they forsook him,
every thing went cross. That great man, Archbishop Tillotson, f Vol. I. Serm. 3. on Prov. 14. 34.)
suggests, That though as to particular persons, the providences of God are promiscuously administered
in this world, because there is another world of rewards and punishments for them, yet it is not so with
nations as such, but national virtues are ordinarily rewarded with temporal blessings, and national sins
punished with temporal judgments; because, as he says, public bodies and communities of men, as such,
can be rewarded and punished only in this world, for in the next they will all be dissolved. So plainly
are God’s ways of disposing kingdoms laid before us in the glass of this history, that I could wish
Christian statesmen would think themselves as much concerned as preachers, to acquaint themselves
with it; they might fetch as good maxims of state and rules of policy from this as from the best of the
Greek and Roman historians. We are blessed (as the Jews were) with a divine revelation, and make a
national profession of religion and relation to God, and therefore are to look upon ourselves as in a
peculiar manner under a divine regimen, so that the things which happened to them, were designed for
ensamples to us.
I cannot pretend to write for great ones. But if what is here done, may be delightful to any in read¬
ing, and helpful in understanding and improving, this sacred history, and governing themselves by the
dictates of it, let God have all the glory, and let all the rivers return to the ocean from whence they
came. When I look back on what is done, I see nothing to boast of, but a great deal to be ashamed of;
and when I look forward on what is to be done, I see nothing in myself to trust to for the doing of it; I
have no sufficiency of my own, but by the grace of God, I am what I am, and that grace shall, I trust,
be sufficient for me. Surely in the Lord have I righteousness and strength. That blessed
which the apostle speaks of, Phil. 1. 19. that continual supply or communication of the Sfiirit of Jesus
Christ, is what we may in faith pray for, and depend upon, to furnish us for every good word and work.
The pleasantness of the study has drawn me on to the writing of this, and the candour with which
my friends have been pleased to receive my poor endeavours on the Pentateuch, encourages me to pub¬
lish it; it is done according to the best of my skill, not without some care and application of mind, in the
same method and manner with that; I wish I could have done it in less compass, that it might have been
more within the reach of the floor of the flock. But then it would not have been so plain and full as I
desire it may be for the benefit of the lambs of the flock-. Brevis esse laboro, obscurus flo — Labouring to
be concise, I become obscure.
With an humble submission to the divine providence and its disposals, and a humble reliance on the
divine grace and its conduct and operation, I purpose still to proceed, as I have time, in this work. Two
volumes more will, if God permit, conclude the Old Testament; and then, if my friends encourage me,
and God spare me, and enable me for it, I intend to go on to the New Testament. For though many
have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those parts of scripture which are yet before us,
(Luke 1. 1.) whose works praise them in the gates, and are likely to outlive mine, yet while the subject
is really so copious as it is, and the manner of handling it may possibly be so various, and while one book
comes into the hands of some, and another into the hands of others, and all concur in the same design
to advance the common interests of Christ’s kingdom, the common faith once delivered to the saints,
and the common salvation of precious souls; (Tit. 1. 4. Jude 3.) I hope store, of this kind, will be
thought no sore. I make bold to mention my purpose to proceed thus publicly, in hopes I may have the
advice of my friends in it, and their prayers for me, that I may be made more ready and mighty in the
scriptures, that understanding and utterance may be given to me, that I may obtain of the Lord Jesus,
to be found Jiis faithful servant, who am less than the least of all that call him Master.
M. H.
Chester, June 2, 1708.
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I
AN
EXPOSITION,
WITH
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS,
UPON THE BOOK OF
JOSHUA.
I We have now before us, the history of the Jewish nation, in this book, and those that follow it to the
end of the book of Esther. These books, to the end of the books of the Kings, the Jewish writers
call, the first book of the prophets, to bring them within the distribution of the books of the Old Testa¬
ment, into the law, the prophets, and the Chetubim, or Hagiographa, Luke 24. 44. The rest
they make part of the Hagiographa. For though history is their subject, it is justly supposed that
prophets were their penmen: to those books that are purely and properly prophetical the name of the
prophet is prefixed, because the credibility of the prophecies depended much upon the character of
the prophets; but these historical books, it is probable, were collections of the authentic records of
the nation, which some of the prophets (the Jewish Church was for many ages more or less continually
blessed with such) were divinely directed and helped to put together for the service of the Church
to the end of the world; as their other officers, so their Historiographers, had their authority from
Heaven. - It should seem that though the substance of the several histories was written when the
events were fresh in memory, and written under a divine direction, yet that under the same direction,
they were put into the form in which we now have them, by some other hand, long afterward
Srobably, all by the same hand, or about the same time. The grounds of the conjecture are, L
ecause former writings are so often referred to, as the Book of Jasher, Josh. 10. 13. and 2 Sam. 1. 18.
and the Chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah often; and the books of Gad, Nathan, and Iddo.
2. Because the days when the things were done, are spoken of sometimes as days long since passed;
as 1 Sam. 9. 9, He that is now called a prophet, was then called a seer. And 3. Because we so
often read of things remaining unto this day, as stones, Josh. 4. 9. — 7. 26. — 8. 29. — 10. 27. 1 Sam. 6. 18.
. Names of places, Josh. 5. 9. — 7. 26. Judg. 1. 26. — 15. 19. — 18. 12. 2 Kings 14. 7. Rights and
possessions, Judg. 1. 21. 1 Sam. 27. 6. Customs and usages, 1 Sam. 5. 5. 2 Kings 17. 41. Which
clauses have been since added to the history by the inspired collectors, for the confirmation and
illustration of it to those of their own age. And if one may offer a mere conjecture, it is not unlikely
that the historical books to the end of the Kings were put together by Jeremiah the prophet a little
before the captivity, for it is said of Ziklag, 1 Sam. 27. 6. it pertains to the kings of Judah (which
style began after Solomon, and ended in the captivity) unto this day: And it is still more probable
that those which follow, were put together by Ezra the scribe, some time after the captivity.
However, though we are in the dark concerning their authors, we are in no doubt concerning their
authority; they were a part of the oracles of God, which were committed to the Jews, and were so
received and referred to by our Saviour and the apostles. - In the five books of Moses we had a
very full account of the rise, advance, and constitution, of the Old Testament Church, the family out
of which it was raised, the promise, that great charter by which it w as incorporated, the jmiracles by
which it was built' up, and the la w a aiid oidinaiicea by which it was co be governed, r rom which
one would conceive an expectation of its character and state very different from what we find in this
history. A nation that had statutes and judgments so righteous, one would think, should have been
very holy; and that had promises so rich, should have been very happy. But, alas! a great part of
the history is a melancholy representation of their sins and miseries, for the law made nothing perfect;
that was to be done by the bringing in of a better hope. And yet if we compare the history oi the
Christian Church with its constitution, we shall find the same cause for wonder, so many have been
its errors and corruptions; for neither does the Gospel make any thing perfect in this world, but leaves
us still in the expectation of a better hope in the future state.
II. We have next before us the book of Joshua, so called, perhaps, not because it was written by him,
for that is uncertain. However that be, it is written concerning him, and if any
h Dr'pi1'?htfoot thinks other wrote it, it was collected out of his journals, or memoirs. It contains the
it at Bishop^1 Patrick*3 is history of Israel under the command and government of Joshua, how he pre¬
clear that Joshua wrote sided as general of their armies, 1. In their entrance into Canaan, ch. Hi- -*5.
it himself. 2. In their conquest of Canaan, ch. 6 • • 12. 3. In the distribution of the land of
Canaan among the tribes of Israel, ch. 13 •• 21. 4. In the settlement and esta¬
blishment of religion among them, ch. 22 • • 24. In all which he was a great example of wisdom,
courage, fidelity, and piety, to all that are in places of public trust But that is not all the use that
Vol. ii. — B.
10
JOSHUA, 1.
is to be made of this history; we may see in it, (1.) Much of God and his providence; his power In
the kingdom of nature; his justice in punishing the Canaanites when the measure of their iniquity was
full; his faithfulness to his covenant with the patriarchs; and his kindness to his people Israel, not¬
withstanding their provocations. We may see him as the Lord of Hosts determining the. issues of war,
and as the Director of the lot, determining the bounds of men’s habitations. (2.) Much of Christ send,
his grace. Though Joshua is not expressly mentioned in the New Testament as a type ot Christ, yet
all agree that he was a very eminent one. He bore our Saviour's name, as did also another type of
him, Joshua the High Priest, Zech. 6. 11, 12. The LXX. giving the name of Joshua a Greek termina¬
tion, call him all along, ’i Jesus, and so he is called, Acts 7. 45. and Heb. 4. 8. Justin Martyr,
one of the first writers of the Christian Church, ( Dialog . cum Tryph. p. mihi 300) makes that promise,
Exod. 23. 20, Mine angel shall bring thee into the place I have prepared, to point at Joshua; and these
words, My name is in him, to refer to this, that his name should be the same with that of the Messiah;
it signifies, He shall save. Joshua saves God’s people from the Canaanites; our Lord Jesus saves them
from their sins. Christ, as Joshua, is the Captain of our Salvation, a Leader and Commander of the
people, to tread Satan under their feet, and to put them in possession of the heavenly Canaan, and to
give them rest, which (it is said, Heb. 4. 8.) Joshua did not.
JOSHUA, I.
CHAP. I.
The book begins with the history, not of Joshua’s life,
(many remarkable passages of that we had before in the
books of Moses,) but of his reign and government. In
this chapter, I. God appoints him in the stead of Moses,
gives him an ample commission, full instructions, and
great encouragements, v. 1..9. II. He accepts the
government, and addresses himself immediately to the
business of it, giving orders to the officers of the people
in general, v. 10, 11. And particularly to the two tribes
and a half, v. 12.. 15. III. The people agree to it, and
take an oath of fealty to him, v. 16. . 18. A reign which
thus began with God, could not but be honourable to
the prince, and comfortable to the subject. The last
words of Moses are still verified, Happy art thou, O Is¬
rael ! who is like unto thee, 0 people ? Deut. 33. 29.
NOW after the death of Moses the
servant of the Lord, it came to
pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the
son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2.
Moses my servant is dead ‘, now therefore
arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this
people, unto the land which I do give to
them, even to the children of Israel. 3.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall i
tread upon, that have I given unto you, as
[ said unto Moses. 4. From the wilder¬
ness and this Lebanon, even unto the great
river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the
Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the
going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5. J here shall not any man be able to stand
before thee all the days of thy life : as I was
with Moses, so I will be with thee : 1 will
not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6. Be strong
and of a good courage ; for unto this people
shaltthou divide for an inheritance the land,
which I sware unto their fathers to give
them. 7. Only be thou strong and very
courageous, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all the law which Moses my
servant commanded thee : turn not from it
tt) Ae right hand or to the left, that thou
mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8. This book of the law shall not depart
out of thy mouth ; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest ob¬
serve to do according to all that is written
therein : for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success. 9. Have not I commanded thee ?
Be strong and of a good courage ; be not
afraid, neither be thou dismayed : for the
Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever
t hou goest.
Honour is here put upon Joshua, and great power
lodged in his hand, by Him that is the Fountain of
honour and power, and by whom kings reign; in¬
structions are given him by infinite wisdom, and en¬
couragements by the God of all consolation. God
had before spoken to Moses concerning him, Numb.
27. 18. But now he speaks to him, v. 1. probably,
as he spake to Moses, Lev. 1. 1, out of the taberna¬
cle of the congregation, where Joshua had with
Moses presented himself, Deut. 31. 14. to learn the
way of attending there. Though Ele.izar had the
J breastplate of judgment, which Joshua was directed
to consult as there was occasion, Numb. 27. 21.
yet, for his great encouragement, God here speaks to
him immediately, .some think, in a dream or vision,
(as Job 33. 15.) for though God has tied us to in¬
stituted ordinances, in them to attend him, yet he
has not tied himself to them, but that he may,
I without them, make himself known to his people,
and speak to their hearts otherwise than by their
ears.
Concerning Joshua’s call to the government, eb
serve here,
I. The time when ft was given him, sifter the
death of Moses. As soon as ever Moses was dead,
Joshua took upon him the administration, by virtue
of his solemn ordination in Moses’s life-time; an in¬
terregnum, though but for a few days, might have
been of ill consequence; but, it is probable, that
God did not speak to him to go forward toward Ca¬
naan, till after the thirty days of mourning for Mo¬
ses were ended; not, as the Jews say, because the
sadness of his spirit during those days unfitted him
for communion with God; (he sorrowed not as one
that had no hope;) but by this solemn pause, and
a month’s adjournment of the public councils, even
now when time was so very precious to them, God
would put an honour upon the memory of Moses,
and give time to the people not only to lament their
loss of him, but to repent of their miscarriages
toward him during the forty years of his govern¬
ment.
JOSHUA, 1.
i J
II. The place Joshua had been in before he was
thus preferred. He was Moses’s minister, that is,
an immediate attendant upon his person and assis¬
tant in business. The LXX. translate it un-h^ys;,
a workman under Moses, under his direction and
command. Observe, 1. He that was here called to
honour, had been long bred to business. Our La rd
Jesus himself took upon him the form of a servant,
and then God highly exalted him. 2. He was
trained up in subjection, and under command.
Those are fittest to rule, that have learnt to obey.
3 He that was to succeed Moses was intimately
acquainted with him, that he might fully know 'his
doctrine and manner of life, his purpose and long-
suffering, (2 Tim. 3. 10.) might take the same
measures, walk in the same spirit, in the same steps,
having to carry on the same work. 4. He was here¬
in a type of Christ, who might therefore be called
Moses’s Minister, because he was made under the
law, and fulfilled all the righteousness of it.
III. The call itself that God gave him, which is
very full.
1. The consideration upon which he was called
to the government; Moses my servant is dead, v. 2.
All good men are God’s servants; and it is no dis¬
paragement, but an honour, to the greatest of men
to be so; angels themselves are his ministers. Moses
was called to extraordinary work, was a steward in
God’s house, and in the discharge of the trusts re¬
posed in him, lie served not himself but God who
employed him; he was faithful as a servant, and
with an eye to the Son, as is intimated, Heb. 3. 5.
where what he did, is said to be for a testimony of
the things that should hes/ioken after; God will own
his servants, will confess them in the great day.
Sut Moses, though God’s servant, and one that
could ill be spared, is dead; for God will change
hands, to show that whatever instruments he uses,
he is not tied to any. Moses, when he has done his
work as a servant, dies and goes to rest from his la¬
bours, and enters into the joy of his Lord. Observe,
God takes notice of the death of his servants. It is
pretious in his sight, Ps. 116. 15.
2. The call itself; Now therefore arise. (1.)
Though Moses is dead, the wo k must go on, there-
fire arise, and go about it. Let not weeping hinder
sowing, nor the withering of the most useful hands
be the we ikening of our’s; for when God has w; rk
to do, he will either find or make instruments fit to
carry it on. Moses, the servant is dead, but God
the Master is not, he liv es for ever. (2.) “ Because
Moses is dead, therefore the work devolves upon
thee as his successor, for hereunto thou wast ap¬
pointed. Therefore there is need of thee to fill up
his place, Up, and be doing.” Note, [1.] The re¬
moval of useful men should quicken survivors to be
s'1 much the more diligent in doing good. Such and
such are dead, and we must die shortly, therefore
let us work while it is day. [2.] It is a great mercy
to a people, if, when useful men are take!) away in
the midst of their tisefulness, others are raised up
in their stead to go on where they broke off. Joshua
must arise to finish what Moses began, thus the lat¬
ter generations enter into the labours of the former.
And thus Christ, our Joshua, does that for us which
could never be done by the law of Moses; justifies.
Acts 13. 39. and sanctifies, Rom. 8. 3. The life of
Moses made way for Joshua, and prepared the peo¬
ple for what was to be done by him: thus the law is
a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. And then the
death of Moses made room for Joshua: thus we are
dead to the law our first husband, that we may be
married to Christ, Rom. 7. 4.
3. The particular service he was now called out
to. “ Arise, go over this Jordan, this river, which
vou have in view, and on the banks of which you lie
encamped. ” This was a trial to the faith of Joshua,
whether he would giv e orders to make preparation
for passing the river, when there was no visible way
of getting over it, at least, not at this place and at
this time, when all the banks were overflown, ch. 3.
15. He had no pontons or bridge of boats by which
to convey them over, aud yet he must believe, that
God, having ordered them over, would open a way
for them. Going over Jordan was going into Ca¬
naan; thither Moses might not, could not, bring them,
Deut. 31. 2. Thus the honour of bringing the ma¬
ny sons to glory is reserved for Christ the Captain
of our salvation, Heb. 2. 10.
4. The grant of the land of Canaan to the children
of Israel is here repeated, m. 2. . 4. I do give it them.
To the patriarchs it was promised, I will give it,
but now that the fourth generation was expired, the
iniquity of the Amorites was full, and the time was
come for the performance of the promise, it is actu¬
ally conveyed, and they are put in possession of that
which they had long been in expectation of, “ I do
give it, enter upon it, it is all your own, nay, v. 3.
I have given it; though it be yet unconquered, it is
as sure to you as if it were in your hands. ” Observe,
(1.) The persons to whom the conveyance is made,
to them, even to the .children of Israel, v. 2. because
they are the seed of Jacob, who was called Israel
then when this promise was made to him, Gen. 35.
10, 12. The children of Israel, though they had
been very provoking in the wilderness, yet for their
fathers’ sakes should have the entail preserved.
And it was the children of the murmurers that God
said should enter Canaan, Numb. 14. 31. (2.) The
land itself that is conveyed, from the river Euphrates
eastward to the Mediterranean sea westward, v. A.
Though their sin cut them short of this large pos¬
session, and they never replenished all the country
within the bounds here mentioned; yet had they
been obedient, God would have given them this and
much more. Out of all these countries, and many
others, there were in process of time pi’oselytes to
the Jewish religion, as appears, Acts 2. 5, &c. If
their church was enlarged, though their nation was
not multiplied, it cannot be said that the promise
was of none effect. And if this promise had not its
full accomplishment in the letter, believers might
thence infer that it had a further meaning, and was
to be fulfilled in the kingdom of the Messiah, both
that of grace and that of glory. (3.) The condition
is here implied, upon which this grant is made, in
those words, as I said unto Moses, that is, “ upon
the terms that Moses told you of many a time; if ye
null keep my statutes, you shall go in and possess
that good land. Take it under those provisos and
limitations, and not otherwise. The precept and
promise must not be separated.” (4.) It is intimat¬
ed with what ease they should gain the possession
■ f this land, if it were not their own fault, in these
words, “ Every place that the sole of your foot shall
tread upon (within the following bounds) shall be
your own. Do but set your foot upon it, and you
shall have it.”
5. The prom'ses God here makes to Joshua for
his encouragement. (1. ) That he should be sure of
the presence of God with him in this great work to
which he was called, v. 5. “ As I was with Moses
to direct and strengthen him, to own and prosper
him, and give him success in bringing Israel out r f
Egypt, and leading them through the wilderness, so
I will be with thee to enable thee to settle them in
Canaan.” Joshua was sensible how far he came
short of Moses, in wisdom and grace, but what Mo¬
ses did, was clone by virtue of the presence of God
with him; and though Joshua had not always the
same presence of mind that Moses had, yet if he had
always the same presence of God, he would do well
enough. Note, It is a great comfort to the rising
generation of ministers and Christians, that the same
12
JOSHUA, i.
grace which was sufficient for those that went before
them, shall not be wanting to them, if they be not
wanting to themselves in the improvement of it. It
is repeated here again, v. 9. “ The Lord thy God
is with thee as a God of power, and that power en¬
gaged for thee whithersoever thou goest. ” Note,
Those that go where God sends them, shall have
him with them wherever they go, and they need de¬
sire no more to make them easy and prosperous.
(2. ) That the presence of God should never be with¬
drawn from him, I will not fail thee, nor forsake
thee, v. 5. Moses had assured him of this, Deut.
31. 8. that though he must now leave him, God
never would; and here God himself confirms that
word of his servant Moses, (Isa. 44. 26. ) and en¬
gages never to leave Joshua. We need the presence
ot God, not only when we are beginning our work
to set us in, but in the progress of it to further us
with a continual help. If that at any time fail us,
we ai e gone; but this we may be sure of, that the
Lord is with us while we are with him. This pro¬
mise here made to Joshua is applied to all believers,
and improved as an argument against covetousness,
Heb. 13. 5, Be content with such things as ye have,
for he hath said, I will never leave thee. (3. ) That
he should have victory over all the enemies of Israel,
v. 5. There shall not any man, that comes against
thee, be able to stand before thee. Note, There is
no standing before those that have God on their
side; If he be for us, who can be against us? God
promises him clear success, the enemy should not
make any head against him; and constant success,
all the days of his life; however it might be with Is¬
rael when he was gone, all his reign should be grac¬
ed with triumphs. What Joshua had himself en¬
couraged the people with long ago, Numb. 14. 9.
God here encourages him with. (4.) That he
should himself have the dividing of this land among
the people of Israel, v. 6. It was a great encou¬
ragement to him in beginning this work, that he was
sure to see it finished, and his labour should not be
in vain. Some make it a reason why he should arm
himself with resolution, and be of good courage, be¬
cause of the bad character of the people whom he
must cause to inherit that land; he knew well what
a froward discontented people they were, and how
unmanageable they had been in his predecessor’s
time; let him therefore expect vexation from them
and be of good courage.
6. The charge and command he gives to Joshua,
which is,
(1.) That he conform himself in every thing to
the law of God, and make that his rule, v. 7, 8.
God does as it were put the book of the law into
Toshua’s hand; as when Joash was crowned, they
gave him the testimony, 2 Kings 11. 12. And con¬
cerning this book, he is charged, [1.] To meditate
therein day and night., that he might understand it,
and have it ready to him upon all occasions. If ever
any man’s business might have excused him from
meditation, and other acts of devotion, one would
think that Joshua’s might at this time; it was a great
trust that was lodged in his hands, the care of it was
enough to fill him, if he had ten souls, and yet he
must find time and thoughts for meditation. What¬
ever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must
not neglect the one thing needful. [2.] Not to let
it depart out of his mouth, that is, all his orders to
the people, and his judgments upon appeals made
to him, must be consonant to the law of God; upon
all occasions he must s/ieak according to this rule;
Isa. 8. 20. Joshua was to maintain and carry on the
work that Moses had begun, and therefore he must
not only complete the salvation Moses had wrought
for them, but must uphold the holy religion he had
established among them. There was no occasion
to make new laws, but that good thing which was
committed to him, he must carefully and faithfully
keep, 2 Tim. 1. 14. [3.] He must observe to do
according to all this taw. To this end he must
meditate therein, not for contemplation sake only,
or to fill his head with notions, or that he might find
something to puzzle the priests with, but that he
might both as a man and as a magistrate observe to
do according to what was written therein; and se¬
veral things were written there, which had particu¬
lar reference to the business he had now before him,
as the laws concerning their wars, the destroying
of the Canaanites, and the dividing of Canaan, &c.
these he must religiously observe. Joshua was a
man of great, power and authority, yet he must him¬
self be under command and do as he is bidden. No
man’s dignity or dominion, how great soever, sets
him above the law of God. Joshua must not only
govern by law, and take care that the people ob¬
serve the law, but he must observe it himself, and
so by his own example maintain the honour and
power of it. First, He must do what was written; it
is not enough to hear and read the word, to com¬
mend and admire it, and know and remember it, to
talk and discourse of it, but we must do it. Second¬
ly, He must do according to what was written, exact¬
ly observing the law as his copy, and doing, not only
that which was there required, but in all circum¬
stances according to the appointment. Thirdly,
He must do according to all that was written, with¬
out exception or reserve, having a respect to all
God’s commandments, even those which are most
displeasing to flesh and blood. Fourthly, He must
observe to do so, observe the checks of conscience,
the hints of providence, and all the advantages of
opportunity: careful observance is necessary to uni¬
versal obedience. Fifthly, He must not turn from
it, either in his own practice, or in any act of go¬
vernment, to the right hand or to the left, for there
are errors on both hands, and virtue is in the mean.
Sixthly, He must be strong and courageous, that
he may do according to the law. So many discou¬
ragements there are in the way of duty, that those
who will proceed and persevere in it, must put on
resolution. And ( lastly ) to encourage him in his
obedience, he assures him, that then he shall do
wisely, (as it is in the margin,) and make his way
prosperous, v. 7. 8. They that make the word of
God their rule, and conscientiously walk by that
rule, shall both do well and speed well ; it will fur¬
nish them with the best maxims by which to order
their conversation, Ps. 111. 10. And it will entitle
them to the best blessings; God shall give them the
desire o f their heart.
(2.) That he encourage himself herein with the
promise and presence of God, and make those his
stay, v. 6, Be strong and of a good courage. And
again, v. 7. as if this was the one thing needful,
onlu be strong and very courageous. And he con¬
cludes with this, v. 9, Be strong and of a good cou¬
rage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.
Joshua had long since signalized his valour in the
war with Amalek, and in his dissent from the report
of the evil spies, and yet Gcd sees fit thus to incul¬
cate this precept upon him. Those that have grace,
have need to be called upon again and again to ex¬
ercise grace and to improve in it. Joshua was hum¬
ble and low in his own eyes, not distrustful of God,
and his power, and promise, but diffident of himself,
and of his own wisdom, and strength, and sufficiency
for the work, especially coming after so great a man
as Moses; and therefore God repeats this so often,
“ Be strong and of a good courage; let not the sense
of thine own infirmities dishearten thee, God is all-
sufficient. Have not I commanded thee? [1.] “I
have commanded the work to be done, and therefore
it shall'be done, how invincible soever the difficulties
may seem that lie in the way.” Nay, [2.] “I have
13
JOSHUA, I.
commanded, called, and commissioned, thee to do it,
and therefore will be sure to own thee and strength¬
en thee, and bear thee out in it.” Note, When we
are in the way of our duty, we have reason to be
strong and. -very courageous ; and it will help very
much to animate and embolden us, if we keep our
eye upon the divine warrant, and hear God saying,
“ Have not I commanded thee? I will therefore help
thee, succeed thee, accept thee, reward thee.” Our
Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was borne up under his
sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the
commandment he had received from his Father ,
John 10. 18.
10. Then Joshua commanded the officers
of the people, saying, 1 1 . Pass through the
host, and command the people, saying, Pre¬
pare your victuals ; for within three days ye
shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to pos¬
sess the land, which the Lord your God
giveth you to possess it. 12. And to the
Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half
the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, say¬
ing, 1 3. Remember the word which Moses
the servant of the Lord commanded you,
saying. The Lord your God hath given you
rest, and hath given you this land. 14.
Your wives, your little ones, and your cat¬
tle, shall remain in the land which Moses
gave you on this side Jordan ; but ye shall
pass before your brethren armed, all the
mighty men of valour, and help them, 15.
Until the Lord have given your brethren
rest, as he hath given you, and they also have
possessed the land which the Lord your
God giveth them: then ye, shall return unto
the land of your possession, and enjoy it,
which Moses, the Lord’s servant, gave you
on this side Jordan, toward the sun-rising.
Joshua, being settled in the government, imme¬
diately applies himself to business; not to take
state or to take his pleasures, but to further the
work of God among the people over which God
had set him. As he that desires the office of a min¬
ister, (1 Tim. 3. 1.) so he that desires the office of
a magistrate, desires a work, a good work; neither
is preferred to be idle.
I. He issues out orders to the people to provide
for a march; and they had been so long encamped
in their present post, that it would be a work of
some difficulty to decamp. The officers of the
people that commanded under Joshua in their re¬
spective tribes and families, attended him for or¬
ders which they were to transmit to the people.
Inferior magistrates are as necessary and as ser¬
viceable to the public good in their places as the su¬
preme magistrate in his. What would Joshua have
done without officers? We are therefore required
to be subject, n t only to the king as supreme, but
to governors, as to them that are sent by him, 1 Pet.
2. 13,14. By these officers, 1. Joshua gives public
notice, that they were to fiass over Jordan within
three days. These orders, I suppose, were not
given till after the return of the spies that were
sent to bring an account of Jericho, though the story
of that affair follows, ch. 2. And perhaps that was
such an instance of his jealousy, and excessive cau¬
tion, as made it necessary that he should be so often
hidden as he was, to be strong and of a good cou¬
rage. Observe with what assurance Joshua says it
to the people, because God had said to him, Ye
shall pass over Jordan, and shall possess the land.
We greatly honour the truth of God, when we stag¬
ger not at the promise of God. 2. He gives them di¬
rections to prepare victuals, not to prepare transport
vessels; he that bore them out of Egypt upon ea¬
gles’ wings, would in like manner bear them into
Canaan, to bring them to himself, Exod. 19. 4. But
those that were minded to have other victuals be¬
side the manna, which had not yet ceased, must
prepare it, and have it ready against the time ap¬
pointed. Perhaps, though the manna did not quite
cease till they were come into Canaan, ch. 5. 12.
yet since they were come into a land inhabited,
(Exod. 16. 35.) where they might be furnished in
part with other provisions, it did not fall so plenti-
fullv, nor did they gather so much as when they
had’ it first given them in the wilderness, but de¬
creased gradually, and therefore they are ordered
to provide other victuals, in which perhaps was in¬
cluded all other things necessary to their march. And
some of the Jewish writers considering that having
manna, they needed not to provide other victuals,
understand it figuratively, that they must repent oj
their sins, and make their peace with God, and re¬
solve to live a new life, that they might be ready
to receive this great favour. See Exod. 19. 10, 11.
II. He reminds the two tribes and a half of the
obligation they were under to go over Jordan with
their brethren, though they left their possessions
and families on this side. Interest would make the
other tribes glad to go over Jordan, but in these it
was an act of self-denial, and against the grain:
therefore it was needful to produce the agreement
which Moses had made with them, when he gave
them their possession before their brethren, v. 13,
Remember the word which Moses commanded you.
Some of them perhaps were ready to think now
that Moses was dead, who they thought was too
hard upon them in this matter, they might find
some excuse or other to discharge themselves from
this engagement, or might prevail with Joshua to
dispense with them; but he holds them to it, and
lets them know, though Moses was dead, his com¬
mands and their promises were still in full force.
He reminds them, 1. Of the advantages they had
received in being first settled: “ The Lord your
God hath given you rest, given your minds rest,
you know what you have to trust to, and are not as
the rest of the tribes, waiting the issue of the war
first and then of the lot. He has also given your
families rest, your wives and children, whose settle¬
ment is your satisfaction. He has given you rest,
by giving you this land, this good land, which you
are in full and quiet possession of.” Note, When
God by his providence has given us rest, we ought to
consider how we may honour him with the advan¬
tages of it, and what service we may do to our
brethren who are unsettled, or not so well settled
as we are. When God had given David rest, (2
Sam. 7. 1.) see how restless he was till he had
found out a habitation for the ark, Ps. 132. 4, 5.
When God has given us rest, we must take heed of
slothfulness, and of settling upon our lees. 2. He
reminds them of their agreement to help their breth¬
ren in the wars of Canaan, till God had in like man¬
ner given them rest, v. 14, 15. This was, (1.)
reasonable in itself; so closely were all the tribes
incorporated, that they must needs look upon them¬
selves as members one of another. (2.) It was en¬
joined them by Moses, the servant of the Lord; he
commanded them to do this, and Joshua his succes¬
sor would see his commands observed. (3.) It was
the only expedient they had to save themselves
from the guilt of a great sin in settling on that
side Jordan, a sin which would one time or other
find them out, Numb. 32. 23. (4 ) It was the con-
14
JOSHUA, II.
dition of the grantMoses had made them of the land
they were possessed of, so that they could not be
sure of a good title to, or a comfortable enjoyment
of, the land of their possession, as it is here called,
v. 15. if they did not fulfil the condition. (5.)
They themselves had covenanted and agreed there¬
unto, Numb. 32. 25, Thy servants will do as my
lord commandeth. Thus we all lie under manifold
obligations to strengthen the hands one of another,
and not to seek our own welfare only but one an¬
other’s.
16. And they answered Joshua, saying,
All that thou commandest us we will do,
and whithersoever thou sendest us we will
go. 1 7. According as we hearkened unto
Moses in all things, so will we hearken
unto thee : only the Lord thy God be with
thee, as he was with Moses. 18. Whoso¬
ever he he that doth rebel against thy com¬
mandment, and will not hearken unto thy
words in all that thou commandest him, he
shall be put to death : only be strong and
of a good courage.
This answer was not given by the two tribes and
a half only, (though they are spoken of immedi¬
ately before,) but by the officers of all the people,
{y. 10.) as their representatives, concurring with
the divine appointment, by which Joshua was set
over them, and they did it heartily, and with a great
deal of cheerfulness and resolution.
1. They promise him obedience, v. 16. not only
as subjects to their prince, but as soldiers to their
general, of whose particular orders they are to be
observant; he that hath soldiers under him, saith to
this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another. Come,
and he cometh; Matt. 8. 9. Thus the people of Is¬
rael here engage themselves to J.shui, “all that
thou con.mandest us to do vae will readily do, with¬
out murmuring or disputing; and whithersoever
thou sendest us, though upon the most difficult and
perilous expedition, we will go.” We must thus
swear allegiance to our Lord Jesus, as the Captain
of our salvation, and bind ourselves to do what he
commands us by his word, and to go whither he
sends us by his providence.
And since Joshua, being humbly conscious to him¬
self how far short he came of Moses, feared he
should not have such influence upon the people, and
such an interest in them, as Moses had, they here
promise that they would be as obedient to him as
ever they had been to Moses, v. 17. To speak
truth, they had no reason to boast of their obedience
to Moses, he had found them a stiff-necked people,
Deut. 9. 24. But they mean that they would be as
observant of Joshua as they should have been, and
as some of them were (the generality of them at
least sometimes) of Moses. Note, We must not so
magnify them that are gone, how eminent soever
they were, either in the magistracy or in the minis¬
try, as to be wanting in the honour and duty we owe
to those that survive and succeed them, though in
gifts they may come short of them. Obedience
for conscience sake will continue, though Provi¬
dence change the hands by which it rules and acts.
2. They pray for the presence of God with him,
v. 17. ** Only the Lord thy God be with thee, to
bless and prosper thee, and give thee success, as he
was with Moses.” Prayers and supplications are
to be made for all in authority, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. And
the best thing we can ask of God for our magis¬
trates, is, that they may have the presence of God
with them; that will make them blessings to us, so
that in seeking this for them, we consult our own
interest. A reason is here intimated, why they
would obey him as they had obeyed Moses, because
they believed (and in faith prayed) that God’s pre¬
sence would be with him as it was with Moses.
Those that we have reason to think have favoui
I from God, should have honour and respect from us.
; Some understand it as a limitation of their obedi¬
ence; “ We will obey only as far as we perceive
the Lord is with thee, but no further. While thou
keepest close to God, he w'ill keep close to thee ;
hitherto shall our obedience come, but no further.”
j But they were so far from having any suspicion cf
Joshua’s deviating from the div ine rule, that there
| needed not such a proviso.
3. They pass an act to make it death to any Is¬
raelite to disobey Joshua’s orders, or rebel against
his commandment, v. 18. Perhaps, if such a law
had been made in Moses’s time, it might have pre¬
vented many of the rebellions that were formed
against him, for most men fear the sword of the ma¬
gistrate more than the justice of God. Yet there
was a special reason for the making of this law, now
that they were entering upon the wars cf Canaan,
for in time of war the severity of military discipline
is more necessaiy than at other times. Some think
that in this statute they have an eye to that law
concerning the prophet God would raise up like
unto Moses, which they think, though it refer
chiefly to Christ yet takes in Joshua by the way,
as a type of him, that whosoever would not hear¬
ken to him, should be cut off from his people, Deut.
18. 19. I will require it of him.
4. They animate him to go on with cheerfulness
in the work to which God had called him; and, in
desiring that he would be strong and of a good cou¬
rage, they do in effect promise him that they would
do all they could, by an exact, bold and cheerful ob¬
servance of all his orders, to encourage him. It
very much heartens those that lead in a good work,
to see those that follow, follow with a good will.
Joshua, though of approved valour, did not take it
as an affront, but as a great kindness, for the peo
pie to bid him be strong and of a good courage.
CHAP. II.
In this we have an account of the scouts that were em¬
ployed to bring an account to Joshua of the pasture
of the city of Jerrcho : Observe here, I. How Joshua
sent them, v. 1. II. How Rahab received them, and
protected them, and told a lie for them, v. 2. . 7. so that
they escaped out of the hands of the enemy. III. The
account she gave them of the present posture of Jericho,
and the panic-fear they were struck with upon the approach
of Israel, v. 8. . 11. IV. The bargain she made with
them for the security of herself and her relations in the
ruin she saw coming upon her city, v. 12. .21. V. Their
safe return to Joshua, and the account they gave him of
their expedition, v. 22. . 24. And that which makes this
story most remarkable, is, that Rahab, the person prin¬
cipally concerned in it, is twice celebrated in the New
Testament as a great believer, Heb. 11. 31. and as one
whose faith proved itself by, good works, James 2. 25.
1. A ND Joshua the son of Nun sent out
-/il of Shittim two men to spy secretly,
saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And
they went, and came into a harlot’s house,
named Rahab, and lodged there. 2. And
it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Be¬
hold, there came men in hither to-night of
the children of Israel, to search out the
country. 3. And the king of Jericho sent
unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men
that are come to thee, which are entered
15
JOSHUA, II.
imo thine house : for they be come to search
out all the country. 4. And the woman
took the two men, and hid them, and said
tlius, There came men unto me, but I wist
not whence they were : 5. And it came to
pass, about the time, of shutting of the gate,
when it was dark, that the men went out :
whither the men went I wot not: pursue
after them quickly ; for ye shall overtake
them. 6. But she had brought them up to
the roof of the house, and hid them with the
stalks of flax, which she had laid in order
upon the roof. 7. And the men pursued
after them the way to Jordan, unto the
fords : and as soon as they which pursued
after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
In these verses we have,
I. The prudence of Joshua, in sending spies to
observe this important pass, which was likely to be
disputed at the entrance of Israel into Canaan, v.
1, Go view the land , even Jericho. Moses had sent
spies. Numb. 13. (Joshua himself was one of them,)
and it proved of ill consequence: yet Joshua now
sends spies, not as the former were sent to survey
the whole land, but Jericho only; not to bringthe ac¬
count to the whole congregation, but to Joshua only;
who, like a watchful General, was continually pro¬
jecting for the public good, and was particularly
careful to take the first step well, and not to stum¬
ble at the threshold. It was not fit that Joshua
should venture over Jordan, to make his remarks
incognito — in disguise, but he sends two men, two
young men (say the LXX. ) to view the land,
that from their report he might take his mea¬
sures in attacking Jericho. Observe, 1. There
is no remedy, but great men must see with other
people’s eyes, which makes it very necessary
that they be cautious in the choice of those they
employ, since so much often depends on their fide¬
lity. 2. Faith in God’s promise ought not to super¬
sede but encourage our diligence in the use of pro¬
per means. Joshua is sure he has God with him,
and yet sends men before him. We do not trust
God, but tempt him, if our expectations slacken our
endeavours. See how ready these men were to go
upon this hazardous enterprise; though they put
their lives in their hands, vet they ventured in obe¬
dience to Joshua their General, in zeal for the
service of the camp, and ifi dependence upon the
power of that God, who being the keeper of Israel
in general, is the Protector of every particular Is¬
raelite in the way of his duty.
II. The providence of God, directing the spies
to the house of Rahab. How they got over Jordan
we are not told, but into Jericho they came, which
was about seven or eight miles from the river, and
there seeking for a convenient inn, were directed to
the house of Rahab, here called a harlot ; a woman
that had formerly been of ill fame, the reproach of
which stuck to her name, though of late she had
repented and reformed. Simon the leper, (Matt.
26. 6.) though cleansed from his leprosy, wore the
reproach of it in his name as long as he lived; so Ra¬
il ub the harlot, and she is so called in the New
Testament, where both her faith and her good
works are praised-, to teach us, 1. That the great¬
ness of sin is no bar to pardoning mercy, if it be
truly repented of in time. We read of publicans
and harlots entering into the kingdom of the Mes¬
siah, and being welcomed to all the privileges of
that kingdom. Matt. 21. 31. 2. That there are
many, who before their conversion were very wick¬
ed and vile, and yet afterward come to great emi¬
nence in faith and holiness. Even those that through
grace have repented of the sins of their youth, must
expect to bear the reproach of them, and when they
hear of their old faults, must renew their repentance;
and as an evidence of that, hear of them patiently.
God’s Israel, for aught that appears, had but one
friend, but one well-wisher in all Jericho, and that
was Rahab, a harlot. God has often served his
own purposes and his church’s interests by men rf
indifferent morals. Had these scouts gone to any
other house than this, they had certainly been be¬
trayed and put to death without mercy. But God
knew where they had a friend that would be true
to them, though they did not, and directed, them
thither. Thus that which seems to us most con¬
tingent and accidental, is often over-ruled by the
Divine Providence to serve its great ends. And those
that faithfully acknowledge God in their ways, he
will guide them with hits eye. See Jer. 36. 19, 26.
III. The piety cf Rahab in receiving and pro¬
tecting these Israelites. Those that keep public-
houses, entertain all comers, and think themselves
obliged to be civil to their guests. But' Rahab
showed her guests more than common civility, and
went upon an uncommon principle in what she did;
it was by faith that she received those with peace,
against whom her king and country had denounced
war, Heb. 11. 31. 1. She bid them welcome to
her house, they lodged there, though it appeal’s by
what she said to them, v. 9. she knew both whence
they came, and what their business was. 2. Per¬
ceiving that they were observed coming into the
city, and that umbrage was taken at it, she hid
them upon the roof of the house, which was flat,
and covered them with stalks of flax, (v. 6.) so that
if the officers should come hither to search for
them, there they might lie undiscovered. By these
stalks of fi.ix, which she herself had laid in order
upon the roof to dry in the sun, in order to the
beating of it, and making it ready for the wheel, it
appears she had one of the good characters of the
virtuous woman, however in' others of them she
might be deficient, that she sought wool and flax,
and wrought willingly with her hands, Prov. 31.
13. From which instance of her honest industry,
one would hope, that whatever she had been for¬
merly, she was not now a harlot. 3. When she
was examined concerning them, she denied they
were in her house, turned off the officers that had
a warrant to search for them with a sham, and so
secured them. No marvel that the king of Jericho
sent to inquire after them, v. 2, 3. he had cause to
fear when the enemy was at his door, and his fear
made him suspicious and jealous of all strangers;
he had reason to demand from Rahab that she
should bring forth the men to be dealt with as spies:
but Rahab not only disowned that she knew them,
or where they were, but, that no further search
might be made for them in the city, told the pur¬
suers they were gone away again, and in all proba¬
bility might be overtaken, v. 4, 5.
Now, (1.) We are sure this was a good work : it
is canonized by the apostle, James 2. 25, where she
is said to be justified by works, and this is instanced
in that she received the messengers, and sent them
out another way, and she did it by faith, such a
faith as set her above the fear of man, even of
the wrath of the king. She believed, upon the
report she had heard of the wonders wrought for
Israel, that their God was the only true God, and
that therefore their declared design upon Canaan
would undoubtedly take effect, and in this faith she
sided with them, protected them, and courted their
favour. Had she said, “I believe God is your’s
and Canaan your’s, but I dare not show you any
kindness,” her faith had been dead and inactive.
16
JOSHUA, 11
and would not have justified her. But by this it ap¬
peared to be both alive and lively, that she exposed
herself to the utmost peril, even of life, in obedience
to her faith. Note, Those only are true believers,
that can find in their hearts to venture for God;
and those that by faith take the Lord for their
God, take his people for their people, and cast in
their lot among them. They that have God for
their refuge and hiding-place, must testify their
gratitude by their readiness to shelter his people
when there is occasion: let mine outcasts dwell with
thee, Isa. 16. 3, 4. And we must be glad of an op¬
portunity of testifying the sincerity and zeal of our
ove to God, by hazardous services to his church
and kingdom among men.
But, (2. ) There is that in it which it is not easy
to justify, and yet it must be justified, or else it
cotdd not be so good a work as to justify her. [1.]
It is plain that she betrayed her country by har¬
bouring the enemies of it, and aiding those that
were designing its destruction, which could not con¬
sist with her allegiance to her prince, and her af¬
fection and duty to the community she was a mem¬
ber of. But that which justifies her in this, is, that
she knew that the Lord had given them this land,
v. 9. knew it by the incontestable miracles God
had wrought for them, which confirmed that grant;
and her obligations to God were higher than her
obligations to any other. If she knew God had
given them this land, it would have been a sin to
join with those that hindered them from possessing
it. But since no such grant of any land to any people
can now be proved, this will by no means justify
any such treacherous practices against the public
welfare. [2.] It is plain that she deceived the of¬
ficers that examined her, with an untruth, That
she knew not whence the men were, that they
were gone out, that she knew not whither they
were gone. What shall we say to this? If she had
either told the truth, or been silent, she had be¬
trayed the spies, and that had certainly been a
great sin: and it does not appear that she had
another way of concealing them, than by this iron¬
ical direction to the officers to pursue them another
way, which if they would suffer themselves to be
deceived by, let them be deceived. None are
bound to accuse themselves, or their friends, of
that which, though inquired after as a crime, they
know to be a virtue. This case was altogether ex¬
traordinary, and therefore cannot be drawn into a
precedent: and that may be justified here, which
would be by no means lawful in a common case.
Rahab knew by what was already done on the
other side Jordan, that no mercy was to be showed
to the Canaanites, and from thence inferred, if
mercy were not owing them, truth was not; they
that might be destroyed, might be deceived. Yet
divines generally conceive that it was a sin, which
however admitted of this extenuation, that being a
Canaanite she was not better taught the evil of ly¬
ing; but God accepted her faith and pardoned her
infirmity: however it was in this case, we are sure
it is our duty to speak every man the truth to his
neighbour, to dread and detest lying, and never to
do evil, that evil, that good may come of it, Rom.
3. 8. But God accepts what is sincerely and ho¬
nestly intended, though there be a mixture of frail¬
ty and folly in it, and is not extreme to mark what
we do amiss. Some suggest that what she said
might possibly be true of some other men.*
* However the guilt of Rahab’s falsehood may he extenuated, it
seems best to admit nothing which tends to explain it away. VVe
are sure that God discriminated between what was good in iter con¬
duct, and what was had, rewarding the former, and pardoning the
latter. Her views of the divine law must have been exceedingly
dim and contracted; a similar falsehood, told by those who enjoy
the light of revelation, however laudable the motive, would of
course deserve much heavier censure.
8. And before they were laid down, she
came up unto them upon the roof; 9. And
she said unto the men, I know that the
Lord hath given you the land, and that
your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the
inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10. For we have heard how the Lord
dried up the water of the Red Sea for you,
when ye came out of Egypt ; and what ye
did unto the two kings of the Amorites that
were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and
Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11. And
as soon as we had heard these things , our
hearts did melt, neither did there remain
any more courage in any man, because of
you : for the Lord your God, he is God in
heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12.
Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me
by the Lord, since 1 have showed you
kindness, that ye will also show kindness
unto my father’s house, and give me a true
token : 13. And that ye will save alive my
father, and my mother, and my brethren,
and my sisters, and all that they have, and
deliver our lives from death. 14. And the
men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye
utter not this our business. And it shall
be, when the Lord hath given us the land,
that we will deal kindly and truly with
thee. 15. Then she let them down by a
cord through the window : for her house
was upon the town wall, and she dwelt up¬
on the wall. 1 6. And she said unto them,
Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers
meet you ; and hide yourselves there three
days, until the pursuers be returned : and
afterward may ye go your way. 17. And
the men said unto her, We will he blame¬
less of this thine oath which thou hast
made us swear. 18. Behold, when we
come into the land, thou shalt bind this line
of scarlet thread in the window which thou
didst let us down by ; and thou shalt bring
thy father, and thy mother, and thy bre¬
thren, and all thy father’s household, home
unto thee. 19. And it shall be, that who¬
soever shall go out of the doors of thy house
into the street, his blood shall he upon his
head, and we will he guiltless : and whoso¬
ever shall be with thee in the house, his
blood shall he on our head, if any hand be
upon him. 20. And if thou utter this oui
business, then we will, be quit of thine oath
which thou hast made us to swear. 21.
And she said, According unto your words
so he it. And she sent them away, and
they departed : and she bound the scarlet
line in the window.
The matter is here settled between Rahab and
the spies, respecting the service she was now to do
17
JOSHUA, II.
for them, and the favour they were afterward to
show to her. She secures them on condition that
they should secure her.
I. She gives them, and by them sends to Joshua
and Israel, all the encouragement that could be de¬
sired to make their intended descent upon Canaan.
This was what they came for, and it was worth
coming for. Being got clear of the officers, she
comes up to them to the roof of the house where
they lay hid, finds them perhaps somewhat dis¬
mayed at the peril they apprehended themselves
in from the officers, and scarcely recovered from
the fright, but has that to say to them which will
give them abundant satisfaction. 1. She lets them
know that the report of the great things God had
done for them, was come to Jericho, v. 10. not only
that they had an account of their late victories ob¬
tained over the Amorites, in the neighbouring
country, on the other side the river, but that their
miraculous deliverance out of Egypt, and passage
through the Red-sea, a great way off, and forty
years ago, were remembered and talked of afresh
in Jericho to the amazement of every body. Thus
this Joshua and his fellows were men wondered at,
Zech. 3. 8. See how God makes his wonderful
works to be remembered, Ps. 111. 4. so that men
shall speak of the might of his terrible acts, Ps. 145.
6. 2. She tells them what impressions the tidings
of these things had made upon the Canaanites,
your terror has fallen upon us, v. 9. our hearts did
melt, v. 11. If she kept a public house, that would
give her an opportunity of understanding the sense
of various companies, and of travellers from other
parts of the country; so that they could not know
this any way better than by her information; and it
would be of great use to Joshua and Israel to know
it, it would put courage into the most cowardly Is¬
raelite to hear how their enemies were dispirited;
and it was easy to conclude, that they who now
fainted before them, would infallibly fall before
them: especially because it was the accomplish¬
ment of a promise God had made them, that he
would lay the fear and dread of them upon all this
land, Deut. 11. 25. and so it would be an earnest of
the accomplishment of all the other promises God
had made them. Let not the stout man glory in
his courage, any more than the strong man in his
strength, for God can weaken both mind and body.
Let not God’s Israel be afraid of their most power¬
ful enemies, for their God can, when he pleases,
make their most powerful enemies afraid of them.
Let none think to harden their hearts against God
and prosper, for he that made man’s soul, can at
any time make the sword of his terrors approach
to it. She hereupon makes the profession of her
faith in God and his promise; and perhaps there
was not found so great faith (all things considered,)
no, not in Israel, as in this woman of Canaan. *(1-)
She believes God’s power and dominion over all the
world, v. 11. “Jehovah your God whom you wor¬
ship and call upon, is so far above all gods, that he
is the only true God; for he is God in heaven above
and in earth beneath, and is served by all the hosts
of both.” A vast distance there is between heaven
and earth, yet both are equally under the inspec¬
tion and government of the great Jehovah. Heaven
is not above his power, nor earth below his cogni¬
zance. (2.) She believes his pi’omise to his peo¬
ple Israel, v. 9, I know that the Lord hath given
you the land. The king of Jericho had heard as
much as she had of the great things God had done
for Israel, yet he cannot infer from thence that the
Lord had given them this land, but resolves to hold
it out against them to the last extremity: for the
most powerful means of conviction will not of them¬
selves attain the end without divine grace, and by
that grace, Rahab the harlot, who had only heard
VOL. II.— C
of the wonders God had wrought, speaks with more
assurance of the truth of the promise made to the
fathers, than all the elders of Israel had done who
were eye-witnesses of those wonders, many of
whom perished through unbelief of this promise.
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed; so Rahab did; O woman, great is thy
faith!
II. She engaged them to take her and her rela¬
tions under their protection, that they might not
perish in the destruction of Jericho, v. 12, 13. Now,
I. It was an evidence of the sincerity and strength
of her faith concerning the approaching revolution
in her country, that she was so solicitous to make
an interest for herself with the Israelites, and court¬
ed their kindness. She foresaw the conquest of her
country, and in the belief of that bespoke in time
the favour of the conquerors. Thus Noah, being
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of
his house, and the condemnmg of the world, Heb.
I I. 7. They who truly believe the divine revela¬
tion, concerning the ruin of sinners, and the grant
of the heavenly land to God’s Israel, will give dili¬
gence to flee from the wrath to come, and to lay
hold on eternal life, by joining themselves to God
and to his people. 2. The provision she made for
the safety of her relations, as well as for her own,
is a laudable instance of natural affection, and an
intimation to us in like manner to do all we can for
the salvation of the souls of those that are dear to
us, and, with ourselves, to bring them, if possible,
into the bond of the covenant. No mention is made
of her husband and children, but only her parents
and brothers and sisters, whom, though she was
herself a housekeeper, she retained a due concern
for. 3. Her request that they would swear unto
her by Jehovah, is an instance of her acquaintance
with the only true God, and her faith in him, and
devotion toward him, one act of which is religiously
to swear by his name. 4. Her petition is very just
and reasonable, that since she had protected them,
they should protect her; and since her kindness to
them extended to their people, for whom they
were now negotiating, their kindness to her should
take in all her’s. It was the least they could do for
one that had saved their lives with the hazard of
her own. Note, Those that show mercy may ex¬
pect to find mercy. Observe, She does not de¬
mand any preferment by way of reward for her
kindness to them, though they lay so much at her
mercy that she might have made her own terms,
but only indents for her life, which, in a general de¬
struction would be a singular favour. Thus God
promised Ebed-Melech in recompense for his
kindness to Jeremiah, that in the worst of times he
should have his life for a prey, Jer. 39. 18. Yet
this Rahab was afterward advanced to be a prin¬
cess in Israel, the wife of Salmon, and one of the an¬
cestors of Christ, Matt. 1. 5. Those that faithfully
serve Christ, and suffer for him, he will not only
protect, but prefer, and will do for them more than
they are able to ask or think.
III. They solemnly engaged for her preservation
in the common destruction, v. 14, “ Our life for
yours. We will take as much care of your lives
as of our own, and would as soon hurt ourselves as
any of you.” Nay, they imprecate God’s judg¬
ments on themselves, if they should violate their
promise to her. She had pawned her life for their’s,
and now they in requital pawn their lives for her’s,
and (as public persons) with them they pawn the
public faith and the credit of their nation, for they
plainly interest all Israel in the engagement of those
words. When the Lord has gwen us the land,
meaning not themselves only, but the people whose
agents they were. No doubt, they knew them¬
selves sufficiently authorised to treat with Rahab
JOSHUA, JJ.
it;
concerning this matter, and were confident that
Joshua would ratify what they did, else they had not
dealt honestly; the general law, that they should
m ike no covenant with the Canaanites, (I)eut. 7.
2.) did not forbid them to take under their protec¬
tion a particular person, that was heartily come into
their interests, and had done them real kindnesses.
The law of gratitude is one of the laws of nature.
Now observe here,
1. The promises they made her. In general,
“ We will deal kindly and truly with thee, v. 14.
We will not only be kind in promising now, but
true in performing what we promise, and not only
true in performing just what we promise, but kind
in out-doing thy demands and expectations.” The
goodness of God is often expressed by his kindness
and truth, (Ps. 117. 2.) and in both these we must
be followers of him. In particular, “If a hand
be upon any in the house with thee, his blood shall
be on our head, v. 19. If hurt come through our
carelessness to those whom we are obliged to pro¬
tect, we thereby contract guilt, and blood will be
found a heavy load. ”
2. The provisos and limitations of their promises.
Though they were in haste, and it may be in some
confusion, yet we find them very cautious in settling
this agreement and the terms of it, not to bind
themselves to more than was fit for them to per¬
form. Note, Covenants must be made with care,
and we must swear in judgment, lest we find our¬
selves perplexed and entangled when it is too late
after vows to make inquiry. They that will be
conscientious in keeping their promises, will be
cautious in making them, and perhaps may insert
conditions which others may think frivolous.
Their promise is here accompanied with three
prov isos, and they were necessary ones. They will
protect Rahab, and all her relations always, pro¬
vided, (1.) That she tie the scarlet cord with which
she was now about to let them down, in the window
of her house, v. 18. This was to be a mark upon
the house, which the spies would take care to give
notice of to the camp of Israel, that no soldier, how
hot and eager soever he was in military executions,
might offer any violence to the house that was thus
distinguished. This was like the blood sprinkled
upon the door-post which secured the first-born
from the destroying angel, and being of the same
colour, some allude to this also, to represent the
safety of believers, under the protection of the
blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience. The
•same cord that she made use of for the preserva¬
tion of these Israelites, was to be made use of for
her preservation. What we serve and honour God
-with, we may expect he will bless and make com¬
fortable to us. (2. ) That she should have all those
•whose safety she had desired in the house with her,
:aml keep them there; and that at the time of taking
fhe town, none of them should dare to stir out of
doors, v. 18, 19. This was a necessary proviso,
for Rahab’s kindred could not be distinguished any
other way than by being in her distinguished house;
should they mingle themselves with their neigh¬
bours, there was no remedy, but the sword would
•devour on.e as well as another. It was a reasonable
•proviso, that since they were saved purely for Ra¬
hab’s s .ke, her house should have the honour of
being their castle; and that if they would not perish
with them that believed not , they should thus far
believe the certainty and severity of the ruin com¬
ing upon their city, as to retire into a place made
safe by promise , as Noah in the ark, and Lot into
Z,oar, and should save themselves from this unto¬
ward generation , by separating from them. It was
likewise a significant proviso, intimating to us that
those who are added to the church that they may
be Bared, must keep close to the society of the faith¬
ful, and having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust, must take heed of being again
entangled therein. (3. ) That she should keep coun¬
sel, v. 14, 20. If thou utter this our business, that
is, “ If thou betray us when we are gone, or if thou
make this agreement public, so as that others tie
scarlet lines in their windows, and so confound us,
then we will be quit of thine oath.” They are un¬
worthy of the secret of the Lord, that know not how
to keep it to themselves when there is occasion.
IV. She then took effectual care t@ secure her
new friends, and sent them out another way, James
2. 25. Having fully understood the bargain they
made with her, and consented to it, v. 21. she then
let them down by a cord over the city wall, v. 15.
the situation of her house befriending them herein:
Thus Paul made his escape out of Damascus, 2
Cor. 11. 33. She also directed them which way to
go for their own safety, being better acquainted
with the country than they were, v. 16. She di¬
rects them to leave the high read, and abscond in
the mountains till the pursuers were returned, for
till then they could not safely venture over Jordan.
Those that are in the way of God and their duty,
may expect that Providence will protect them, but
that will not excuse them from taking all prudent
methods for their own safety. God will keep us,
but then we must not wilfully expose ourselves.
Providence must be trusted, but not tempted. Cal¬
vin thinks that their charge to Rahab to keep this
matter secret, and not to utter it, was intended for
her safety, lest she, boasting of her security from
the sword of Israel, should, before they came to
protect her, fall into the hands of the king of Jeri¬
cho, and be put to death for treason : thus do they
prudently advise her for her safety, as she advised
them for their’s. And it is good advice, which we
should at any time be thankful for, to take heed to
ourselves.
22. And they went, and came unto the
mountain, and abode there three days, until
the pursue] s were returned : And the pur¬
suers sought them throughout all the way,
but found them not. 23. So the two men re¬
turned, and descended from the mountain,
and passed over, and came to Joshua the
son of Nun, and told him all things that
befell them : 24. And they said unto
Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered
into our hands all the land ; for even all the
inhabitants of the countiy do faint because
of us.
We have here the safe return of the spies Joshua
had sent, and the great encouragement they brought
with them to Israel to proceed in their descent upon
Canaan. Had they been minded to discourage the
people, as the evil spies did that Moses sent, they
might have told them what they had observed of
the height and strength of the walls of Jericho, and
the extraordinary vigilance of the king of Jericho,
and how narrowly they escaped out of his hands:
but they were of another spirit, and depending
themselves upon the divine promise, they animated
Joshua likewise.
1. Their return in safety was itself an encourage¬
ment to Joshua, and a token for good. That God
provided for them so good a friend as Rahab was, in
an enemy’s country, and that, notwithstanding the
rage of the king of Jericho, and the eagerness of
the pursuers, they were come back in peace, with
such an instance of God’s great care concerning
i them for Israel’s sake, as might assure the people
19
JOSHUA, III.
of the divine conduct and care they were under,
which would undoubtedly make the progress of
their arms glorioufc. He that so wonderfully pro¬
tected their scouts, would preserve their men of
war, and cover their heads in the day of battle.
2. The report they brought was much more en¬
couraging, v. 24. “All the inhabitants of the coun¬
try, though resolved to stand it out, yet do faint \
because of us, they have neither wisdom to yield,
nor courage to fight;” whence they conclude,
“ Truly the Lord has delivered into our hands all
the land, it is all our own, we have nothing to do, in
effect, but to take possession.” Sinners’ frights are
sometimes sure presages of their fall. If we resist
our spiritual enemies, they will flee before us,
which will encourage us to hope that in due time
we shall be more than conquerors.
CHAP. III.
This chapter, and that which follows it, gives us the history
of Israel’s passing through Jordan into Canaan, and a
very memorable history it is. Long after, they are bid
to remember, what God did for them between Shittim
(whence they decamped, v. 1.) and Gilgal, where they
next pitched, ch. 4. 19. Mic. 6. 5, That they might
know the righteousness of the Lord. By Joshua’s order
they marched up to the river’s side, v. 1. and then al¬
mighty power led them through it. They passed through
the Red-sea unexpectedly, and in their flight by night,
but they have notice some time before of their passing
through Jordan, and their expectations raised. I. The
people are directed to follow the ark, v. 2 . . 4. II. They
are commanded to sanctify themselves, v. 5. III. The
priests with the ark are ordered to lead the van, v. 6.
IV. Joshua is magnified and made commander in chief,
v. 7, 8. V. Public notice is given of what God is about
to do for them, v. 9 . . 13. VI. The thing is done, Jor¬
dan is divided, and Israel brought safely through it, v.
14 . . 1 7. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous
in our eyes.
I. 4 ND Joshua rose early in the morn-
JA- L ing; and they removed from Shit-
t.im, and came to Jordan, he and all the
children of Israel, and lodged there before
they passed over. 2. And it came to pass,
after three days, that the officers went
through the host ; 3. And they commanded
die people, saying, When ye see the ark
of the covenant of the Lord your God,
and the priests the Levites bearing it, then
ye shall remove from your place, and go
after it. 4. Yet there shall be a space be¬
tween you and it, about two thousand cubits
by measure : come not near unto it, that ye
may know the way by which ye must go :
for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
5. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanc¬
tify yourselves: for to-morrow the Lord
will do wonders among you. 6. And
Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take
up the ark of the covenant, and pass over
before the people. And they took up the
ark of the covenant, and went before the
people.
Rahab, in mentioning to the spies the drying up
of the Red Sea, ch. 2. 10. the report of which
terrified the Canaanites more than any thing else,
intimates that they on that side the water expected
that Jordan, that great defence of their country,
would in like manner give way to them; whether
the Israelites had any expectation of it, does not
appear. God often did things for them which they
looked not for, Isa. 64. 3. Now here we are told,
I. That they came to Jordan and lodged there,
v. 1. Though they were not yet told how they
should pass the ri\ er, and were unprovided for the
passing of it in any'ordinary way, yet they went
forward in faith, having been told, ch. 1. 11. that
they should pass it. We must go on in the way cf
our duty, though we foresee difficulties, trusting
God to help us through them, when we come to
them. Let us proceed as far as we can, and de¬
pend on divine sufficiency for that which we find
ourselves not sufficient for. In this march Joshua
led them, and particular notice is taken of his early
rising; as there is afterward upon other occasions,
ch. 6. 12. — 7. 16. — 8. 10. which intimates how lit¬
tle he loved his ease, how much he loved his busi¬
ness, and what care and pains he was willing to
take in it. Those that would bring great things
to pass, must rise early. Love not sleefi, lest thou
come to poverty. Jcshua herein set a good example
to the officers under him, and taught them to rise
early, and to all that are in public stations especially
to attend continually to the duty cf their place.
II. That the people were directed to follow the
ark; officers were appointed to go through the host
to give these directions, v. 2. that every Israelite
might know both what to do, and what to depend
upon.
1. They might depend upon the ark to lead
them; that is, upon God himself, of whose presence
the ark was an instituted sign and token. It seems,
the pillar of cloud and fire was removed, else that
had led them, unless we suppose that that now ho¬
vered over the ark, and so they had a double guide,
honour was put upon the ark, and a defence upon
that glory. It is called here the ark of the covenant
of the Lord their God. What greater encourage¬
ment could they have than this, That the Lord was
their God, a God in covenant with them? Here
was the ark of the covenant; if God be cur’s, we
need not to fear any evil. He was nigh to them,
present with them, went before them: What could
come amiss to them that were thus guided, thus
guarded? Formerly, the ark was carried in the
midst of the camp, but now it went before them to
search out a resting-place for them, Numb. 10. 33.
and, as it were, to give them livery and seisin of the
promised land, and put them in possession cf it. In
the ark the tables of the law were, and over it the
mercy-seat, for the di' ine law and grace reigning
in the heart are the surest pledges of God’s presence
and favour; and those that would be led to the
heavenly Canaan, must take the law of God for
their guide, ( if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments ,) and have the great Propitiation
in their eye, looking for the mercy of our Lora
Jesus Christ unto eternal lift.
2. They might depend upon the priests and Le¬
vites, who were appointed for that purp6se to carry
the ark before them. The work of ministers is to
hold forth the word of life, and to take care of the
administration of those ordinances which are the
tokens of God’s presence, and the instruments of
his power and grace; and herein they must go be¬
fore the people of God in their way to heaven.
3. The people must follow the ark. Remove
from your place and go after it; (1.) As those that
are resolved never to forsake it; wherever God’s
ordinances are, there we must be; if they flit, we
must remove and go after them. (2.) As those
that are entirelv satisfied in its guidance, that it
will lead in the best way to the best end; and there¬
fore, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou
goest. This must be all their care, to attend the
motions of the ark, and follow it with an implicit
faith. Thus must we walk after the rule of the
20
JOSHUA, III.
word, and the direction of the Spirit in every thing,
so shall peace be upon us, as it now was upon the
Israel of God. They must follow the priests as far
as they carried the ark, but no further; so we must
follow our ministers only as they follow Christ.
4. In following the ark, they must keep their dis¬
tance, v. 4. They must none of them come within
a thousand yards of the ark. (1.) They must thus
express their awful and reverent regard to that
token of God’s presence, lest its familiarity with
them should breed contempt. This charge to
them, not to come near, was agreeable to that dis¬
pensation of darkness, bondage, and terror: but we
now through Christ have access with boldness.
(2.) Thus it was made to appear, that the ark was
able to protect itself, and needed not to be guarded
by the men of war, but was itself a guard to them.
With what a noble defiance of the enemy did it
leave all its friends half a mile behind, but the
unarmed priests that carried it, as perfectly suffi¬
cient for its own safety and their’s that followed it.
(3.) Thus it was the better seen by those that
were to be led by it, that ye may know the way by
which ye must go, seeing it, as it were, chalked out
or tracked by the ark. Had they been allowed to
come near it, they would have surrounded it, and
none would have had the sight of it but those that
were close to it; but as it was put at such a distance
before them, they would all have the satisfaction of
seeing it, and would be animated by the sight.
And it was with good reason that this provision was
made for their encouragement, for ye have not
passed this way heretofore. This had been the
character of all their way through the wilderness,
it was an untrodden path, but this especially
through Jordan. While we are here, we must ex¬
pect and prepare for unusual events, to pass ways
that we have not passed before: and much more
when we go hence; our way through the valley of
the shadow of death is a way we have not gone be¬
fore, which makes it the more formidable. But if
we have the assurance of God’s presence we need
not fear, that will furnish us with such strength as
we never had, when we come to do a work we
never did.
III. They were commanded to sanctify them¬
selves, that they might be prepared to attend the
ark; and for this there was good reason, for to¬
morrow the Lord will do wonders among you, v. 5.
See how magnificently he speaks of God’s works,
he doeth wonders, and is therefore to be adored,
admired, and trusted in. See how intimately ac¬
quainted Joshua was with the divine counsels, he
could tell beforehand what God would do, and when.
See what preparation we must make to receive the
discoveries of God’s glory and the communications
of his grace, we must sanctify ourselves. This we
must do when we are to attend the ark, and God by
it is about to do wonders among us; we must sepa¬
rate ourselves from all other cares, devote ourselves
to God’s honour, and cleanse ourselves from all fil¬
thiness of flesh and spirit. The people of Israel
were now entering into the holy land, and therefore
must sanctify themselves. God was about to give
them uncommon instances of his favour, which by
meditation and prayer they must compose their
minds to a very careful observation of, that they
might give God the glory, and take to themselves
the comfort, of these appearances.
IV. The priests were ordered to take up the ark
and carry it before the people, v. 6. It was the
Levites’ work ordinarily to carry the ark, Numb.
4. 15. But on this great occasion the priests were
ordered to do it. And they did as they were com¬
manded, took up the ark, and did not think them¬
selves disparaged, went before the people, and did not
think themselves exposed; the ark they carried was
both their honourand defence. Andnowwemay sup¬
pose that prayer of Moses used, when the ark set for¬
ward, Numb. 10. 35, Rise up. Lord, and let thine
enemies be scattered. Magistrates are here instruct¬
ed to stir up ministers to their work, and to make
use of their authority for the furtherance of religion;
ministers must likewise learn to go before in the
way of God, and not to shrink or draw back when
dangers are before them. They must expect to be
most struck at, but they know whom they have
trusted.
7. And the Lord said unto Joshua, This
dajr will I begin to magnify thee in the sight
of all Israel, that they may know that, as ]
was with Moses, so 1 will be with thee. 8.
And thou shalt command the priests that
bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When
ye are come to the brink of the water of
Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 9.
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel,
Come hither, and hear the words of the
Lord your God. 10. And Joshua said,
Hereby ye shall know that the living God
is among you, and that he will without fail
drive out from before you the Canaanites,
and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the
Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the
Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11. Behold,
the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all
the earth passeth over before you into Jor¬
dan. 12. Now therefore take ye twelve
men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every
tribe a man. 1 3. And it shall come to pass,
as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests
that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of
all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jor¬
dan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut
off from the waters that come down from
above ; and they shall stand upon a heap.
We may observe here how God honours Joshua,
and, by this wondrous work he is about to do, de ■
signs to make Israel know that he is their governor
And then, how Joshua honours God, and endea
vours by it to make Israe know that he is their God.
Thus those that honour God he will honour, and
those whom he has advanced, should do what they
can in their places to exalt him.
I. God speaks to Joshua to put honour upon him,
v. 7, 8.
1. It was a great honour God did him that he
spake to him, as he had done to Moses from off the
mercy-seat, before the priests removed it with the
ark. This would make Joshua easy in himself and
great among the people, that God was pleased to
speak so familiarly to him.
2. That he designed to magnify him in the sight
of all Israel. He had told him before he would be
with him, ch. 1. 5. that comforted him, but now all
Israel shall see it, and that magnified him. Those
are truly great with whom God is, and whom he
employs and owns in his service. God magnified
him, because he would have the people magnify
him. Pious magistrates are to be highly honoured
and esteemed as public blessings, and the more we
see of God with them, the more we should honour
them. By the dividing of the Red-sea, Israel was
convinced that God was with Moses in bringing
! them out of Egypt; therefore they are said to be
21
JOSHUA, 111.
baptized unto Moses in the sea, 1 Cor. 10. 2. And
upon that occasion they believed him, Exod. 14. 31.
And now by the dividing of Jordan, they shall be
convinced, that God is in like manner with Joshua
in bringing them into Canaan. God had magnified
Joshua before on several occasions, but now he be¬
gan to magnify him as the successor of Moses in the
government. Some have observed, it was at the
banks of Jordan that God began to magnify Joshua,
and at the same place he began to magnify our
Lord Jesus as Mediator; for John was baptizing at
Bethabara, the house of passage, and there it was,
that when our Saviour was baptized, it was pro¬
claimed concerning him. This is my beloved Son.
3. That by him he gave orders to the priests
themselves, though they were his immediate at¬
tendants, v. 8, Thou shalt command the priests,
that is, “Thou shalt make known to them the di¬
vine command in this matter, and take care that
they observe it, to stand still at the brink of Jordan
while the waters part, that it may appear to be at
the presence of the Lord, of the mighty God of Ja¬
cob, that Jordan is driven back,” Ps. 114. 5, 7.
God could have divided the river without the
priests, but they could not without him. The
priests must herein set a good example to the peo¬
ple, and teach them to do their utmost in the
service of God, and trust him for help in time of
need.
II. Joshua speaks to the people, and therein ho¬
nours God.
1. He demands attention, v. 9. “ Come hither to
me, as many as can come within hearing, and before
you see the works, hear the words of the Lord your
God, that you may compare them together, and
they may illustrate each other.” He had com¬
manded them to sanctify themselves, and therefore
calls them to hear the word of God, for that is the
ordinary means of sanctification, John 17. 17.
2. He now tells them at length, by what way they
should pass over Jordan, by the stopping of its
stream, v. 13, The waters of Jordan shall be cut
off- God could by a sudden and miraculous frost
have congealed the surface, so that they might all
have gone over upon the ice; but that being a thing
sometimes done even in that country, by the ordi¬
nary power of nature, (Job 38. 30.) it would not
have been such an honour to Israel’s God, nor such
a terror to Israel’s enemies; it must therefore be
done in such a way as had no precedent but the di¬
viding of the Red-sea: and that miracle is here
repeated, to show that God has the same power to
finish the salvation of his people, that he had to be¬
gin it, for he is the yllpha and the Omega; and that
the Word of the Lord, (as the Chaldee reads it, v.
7.) the essent:al eternal Word was as truly with
Joshua as he was with Moses. And by the dividing
of the waters from the waters, and the making of
the dry land to appear which had been covered,
God would remind them of that which Moses by
revelation had instructed them in, concerning the
work of creation, Gen. 1. 6, 9. That by what they
now saw, their belief of that which they there read,
might be assisted, and they might know that the
God whom they worshipped, was the same God
that made the world, and that it was the same
power that was engaged and employed for them.
3. The people having been directed before to fol¬
low the ark, are here told that it should pass before
them into Jordan, v. 11. Observe, (1.) The ark
of the covenant must be their guide. During the
reign of Moses, the cloud was their guide, but now,
in Joshua’s reign, the ark; both were visible signs
of God’s presence and presidency, but divine grace
under the Mosaic dispensation was wrapt up as in a
cloud and covered with a vail, while by Christ, our
Joshua, it is revealed in the ark of the covenant un¬
vailed, (2.) It is called the ark of the covenant oj
the Lord op all the earth. “ He that is your God,
v. 9. in covenant with you, is the Lord of all the
earth, has both right and power to command, con¬
trol, use, and dispose of all nations and of all crea¬
tures. He is the Lord of all the earth, therefore
he needs not you, nor can be benefited by you;
therefore it is your honour and happiness to have
him in covenant with you: if he be your’s, all the
creatures are at your service, and when he pleases,
shall be employed for you.” When we are praising
and worshipping God as Israel’s God, and our’s
through Christ, we must remember that he is the
Lord of the whole earth, and reverence him and
trust in him accordingly. Some observe an accent
in the original, which they think directs us to trans¬
late it somewhat more emphatically, Behold the ark
of the covenant, even the ark of the Lord, or even
of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth. (3.)
They are told that the ark should pass before them
into Jordan, God would not appoint them to go any
where, but where he himself would go before them,
and go with them; and they might safely venture,
even into Jordan itself, if the ark of the covenant
led them. While we make God’s precepts our rule,
his promises our stay, and his providence our guide,
we need not dread the greatest difficulties we may
meet with in the way of duty. That promise is
sure to all the seed, Isa. 43. 2, When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee, and through
the rivers, they shall not overfow thee.
4. From what God was now about to do for them,
he infers an assurance of what he would yet further
do. This he mentions first, so much was his heart
upon it, and so great a satisfaction did it give him,
v. 10. “ Hereby ye shall know that the living God
(the true God, and God of power, not one of the
dead gods of the heathen) is among you, though you
see him not, nor are to have any image of him; is
among you to give you law, secure your welfare,
and receive your homage: is among you in this great
undertaking now before you; and therefore ye shall,
nay, he himself, will, without fail, drive out from
before you the Canaanites. ” So that the dividing of
Jordan was intended to be to them, (1.) A sure to¬
ken of God’s presence with them ; by this they could
not but know that God was among them, unless
their unbelief was as obstinate against the most con¬
vincing evidence, as that of their fathers was, who,
presently after God had divided the Red-sea before
them, impudently asked, Is the Lord among us, or
is he not ? Exod. 17. 7. (2.) A sure pledge of the
conquests of Canaan; if the living God is among you,
expelling he will expel, (so the Hebrew phrase is)
from before you the Canaanites. He will do it cer¬
tainly, and do it effectually. What should hinder
him? What can stand in his way, before whom
rivers are divided, and dried up? The forcing cf
the lines was a certain presage of the ruin of all
their hosts: how could they stand their ground
when Jordan itself was driven back? When they
had not courage to dispute this pass, but tremb'ecl
at the approach of the mighty God of Jacob, Ps.
114. 7. What1 opposition could they ever make af¬
ter this? This assurance which Joshua here gives
them, was so well grounded, as that it would enable
one Israelite to chase a thousand Canaanites, and
two to put ten thousand to flight: and it would be
abundantly strengthened by remembering the song
of Moses, dictated forty years before, which plainly
foretold the dividing of Jordan, and the influence it
would bave upon the driving out of the Canaanites,
Exod. 15. 15* -17. The inhabitants of Canaan shall
melt await, and so be effectually driven out, thev
shall be as still as a stone till thy people pass over,
and then thou shalt bring them in and plant them.
Note, God’s glorious appearances for his church
JOSHUA, Ill.
and people, ought to be improved by us tor the en-
cour gement oi our faith and hope for the future.
As for Clod, his work is perfect. If Jordan’s flood
cannot keep them out, Canaan's force cannot turn
them out again.
5. He directs them to get twelve men ready, one
of each tribe, who must be within call, to receive
such orders as Joshua should afterward give them,
v. 12. It does not appear that they were to attend
the priests, and walk with them when they carried
tne ark, that they might more immediately be
witnesses of the wonders done by it, as some think;
but they were to be at hand for the service they
were called to, ch. 4. 4, &c.
14. And it came to pass, when the peo¬
ple removed from their tents, to pass over
Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of
the covenant before the people; 15. And as
they that bear the ark were come unto Jor¬
dan, and the feet of the priests that bare the
ark were dipped in the brim of the water,
(for Jordan overfloweth all his banks at the
time of harvest,) 16. That the waters which
came down from above stood and rose up
upon a heap very far from the city Adam,
that is beside Zaretan : and those that
came down toward the sea of the plain,
even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off:
and the people passed over right against
Jericho. 17. And the priests that bare the
ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm
on dry ground in the midst of Jordan ; and
all the Israelites passed over on dry ground,
until all the people were passed clean over
Jordan.
Here we have a short and plain account of the
dividing of the river Jordan, and the passage of the
children of Israel through it. The story is not gar¬
nished with the flowers of rhetoric, gold needs not
to be painted; but it tells us, in short, matter of
fact.
1. That this river was now broader and deeper
than usually it was at other times of the year, v. 15.
The melting of the snow upon the mountains
of Lebanon, near which this river had its rise,
was the occasion, that, at the time of harvest,
barley-harvest, which was the spring of the year,
Jordan overflowed all his banks. This great flood,
just at that time, (which Providence might have
restrained for once, or which he might have order¬
ed them to cross at another time of the year,) very
much magnified the power of God and his kindness
to Israel. Note, Though the opposition given to
the salvation of God’s people, have all imaginable
advantages, yet God can and will conquer it. Let
the banks of Jordan be filled to the brink, filled till
they run over, it is as easy to Omnipotence to divide
them, and dry them up, as if they were never so
narrow, never so shallow; it is all one with the
Lord.
2. That as soon as ever the feet of the priests
dipped in the brim of the water, the stream stop¬
ped immediately, as if a sluic-1 nad been made to
dam it up, v. 15, 16. So that the waters above
swelled, stood on a heap, and ran back, and yet, as
it should seem, did not spread, but congealed;
which unaccountable rising of the river was ob¬
served with amazement by those that lived upward
upon it many miles oft', and the remembrance of it
remained among them long after; the waters on the
ether side this invisible dam ran down of course,
and left the bottom of the river dry as far down
ward, it is likely, as they swelled upward. When
they passed through the Red-sea, the waters were
a wall on either hand, here only on the right hand.
Note, The God of nature, can, when he pleases,
change the course of nature, and alter its proper¬
ties, can turn fluids into solids, waters into standing
rocks, as on the contrary, rocks into standing wa¬
ters, to serve his own purposes. See Ps. 114. 5, 8.
What cannot God do? What will he not do for the
perfecting of his people’s salvation? Sometimes he
cleaves the earth with rwers, Hab. 3. 9. and some¬
times, as here, cleaves the rivers without earth. It
is easy to imagine how, when the course of this
strong and rapid stream was arrested on a sudden,
the waters roared and were troubled, so that the
mountains seemed to shake with the swelling there¬
of, Ps. 46. 3. how the floods lifted their voice, the
floods lifted up their waves, while the Lord on high
showed himself mightier than the noise of these
many waters, Ps. 93. 3, 4. With reference to this,
the prophet asks, Was the Lord displeased against
the rivers, was thine anger against the rwers? Hab.
3. 8. No, Thou wentest forth for the salvation of
thy people, v. 13. In allusion to this, it is foretold
among the great things God will do for the Gospel-
church in the latter days, that the great river Eu¬
phrates shall be dried up, that the way of the Kings
of the east may be prepared. Rev. 16. 12. When
the time is erme for Israel’s entrance into the land
of promise, all the difficulties shall be conquered,
mountains shall become plains, Zech. 4. 7. and
rivers become dry, for the ransomed of the Lord to
pass over. When we have finished our pilgrimage
through this wilderness, death will be like this Jor¬
dan between1 us and the heavenly Canaan, but the
ark of the covenant has prepared us a way through
it, it is the last enemy that shall be destroyed.
3. That the people 'passed over right against Jeri¬
cho, which was (1.) An instance ot their boldness,
and a noble defiance of their enemies; Jericho was
one of the strongest cities, and yet they dared to
face it at their first entrance. (2.) It was an en¬
couragement to them to venture through Jordan,
for Jericho was a goodly city, and the country about
it extremely pleasant; and having that in view as
their own, what difficulties could discourage them
from taking possession? (3.) It would increase the
confusion and terror of their enemies, who, no
doubt, strictly observed their motions, and were the
amazed spectators of this work of wonders.
4. That the priests stood still in the midst of Jor¬
dan while the people passed over, v. 17. There the
ark was appointed to be, to show that the same
power that parted the waters, kept them parted
as long as there was occasion, and had not the di¬
vine presence, of which the ark was a token, been
their security, the water had returned upon them
and buried them. There the priests were appoint¬
ed to stand still, (1.) To try their faith, whether
they could venture to take their post when God as¬
signed it them, with mountains of water over their
heads: as they made a bold step when they set the
first foot into Jordan, so now they made a bold stand
when they tarried longest in Jordan; but they knew
they carried their own protection with them. Note,
Ministers in times of peril should be examples of
courage and confidence in the divine goodness. (2.)
It was to encourage the faith of the people, that
they might go triumphantly into Canaan, and fear
no evil, no not in this valley of the shadow of death,
(for so the divided river was) being assured of God’s
presence which interposed between them and the
greatest danger, between them and the proud wa¬
ters, which otherwise had gone over their souls
JOSHUA, IV. 23
Thus in the greatest dangers the saints are com¬
forted with his rod and his staff, Ps. 23. 4.
CHAP. IV.
This chapter gives a further account of the miraculous
passage of Israel through Jordan. I. The provision that
was made at that time to preserve the memorial of it, by
twelve stones set up in Jordan, v. 9. and other twelve
stones taken up out of Jordan, v. 1 . . 8. II. The march
of the people through Jordan’s channel, the two tribes
first, then all the people, and the priests that hare the
ark last, v. 10.. 14. III. The closing of the waters
again upon their coming up with the ark, v. 15.. 19.
IV. Tne erecting of the monument in Gilgal, to preserve
the remembrance of this work of wonder to posterity,
v. 20 . . 24.
1 . A N D it came to pass, when all the peo-
-t\. pie were clean passed over Jordan,
that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,
2. Take you twelve men out of the people,
out of every tribe a man, 3. And com¬
mand you them, saying, Take you hence
out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place
where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve
stones ; and ye shall carry them over with
you, and leave them in the lodging place
where you shall lodge this night. 4. Then
Joshua called the twelve men whom he had
prepared of the children of Israel, out of
every tribe a man : 5. And Joshua said
unto them, Pass over before the ark of the
Lord your God into the midst of Jordan,
and take ye up every man of you a stone
upon his shoulder, according unto the num¬
ber of the tribes of the children of Israel : 6.
That this may be a sign among you, that
when your children ask their fathers in time
to come, saying, What mean you by these
stones? 7. Then ye shall answer them,
That the waters of Jordan were cut offbe- -
fore the ark of the covenant of the Lord;
when it passed over Jordan, the waters of
Jordan were cut off : and these stones shall
be for a memorial unto the children of Is- j
rael for ever. 8. And the children of Israel
did so as Joshua commanded, and took up
twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as
the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to
the number of the tribes of the children of
Israel, and carried them over with them
unto the place where they lodged, and laid
them down there. 9. And Joshua set up
twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in
the place where the feet of the priests which
bare the ark of the covenant stood : and
they are there unto this day.
We may well imagine how busy Joshua and all
the men of war were, while they were passing over
Jordan, when beside their own marching into an
enemy’s country, and in the face of the enemv,
which could not but occasion them many thoughts
of heart, they had their wives, and children, and
families, their cattle, and tents, and all their effects,
bag and baggage, to convey by this strange and un¬
trodden path whicl we must suppose either very
muddy, or very stony, troublesome to thi weaK,
and frightful to the timorous, the descent to the
bottom of the ri\ er, and the ascent out of it steep,
so that every man must needs have his head full cf
care and his hands full of business, and Joshua more
than any of them. And yet in the midst of all his
hurry, care must be taken to perpetuate the memo
rial of this wondrous work of God, and this care
might not be adjourned to a time of greater leisure.
Note, How much soever we have to do of business
for ourselves, and our families, we must not neg¬
lect or omit what we have to do for the glory of
God and the serving of his honour, for that is cur
best business. Now,
I. God gave orders for the preparing of this me¬
morial. Had Joshua done it without di\ine direc¬
tion, it might have looked like a design to perpetu¬
ate his own name and honour, nor would it have
commanded so sacred and venerable a regard from
posterity, as now, when God himself appointed it.
Note, God’s works of wonder ought to be kept in
everlasting remembrance, and means devised for the
preserving of the memorial of them. Some of the
Israelites that passed over Jordan, perhaps were so
stupid, and so little affected with this great favour
of God to them, that they felt no concern to have it
remembered; while others, it may be, were so
much affected w’ith it, and had such deep impres¬
sions made upon them by it, that they thought there
needed no memorial of it to be erected, the heart
and tongue of every Israelite in every age would be
a living, lasting monument of it. But God, know¬
ing their frame, and how apt they had been soon to
forget his works, ordered an expedient for the
keeping of th’s in remembrance to all generations,
that those who could not, or would not, read the
record of it in sacred history, might come to the
knowledge of it by the monument set up in remem¬
brance of it, which the common tradition of the
country would be an explication of; it would like¬
wise serve to corroborate the proof of the matter of
fact, and would remain a standing evidence of it to
those who in after-ages might question the truth
of it.
A monument is to be erected, and 1. Joshua, as
chief captain, must give directions about it, v. 1.
When all the people were clean passed o-ver Jordan,
not even the feeble, that were the hindmost ol
them, left behind, so that God had done his work
completely, and every Israelite got safe into Ca¬
naan, then God spake unto Joshua to provide ma¬
terials for this monument. It is the pious conjecture
of the learned Bishop Patrick, that Joshua was gone
into some place of retirement, to return thanks im¬
mediately for this wonderful mercy, and then God
met him, and spake thus to him. ' Or, perhaps, it
was by Eleazar the priest, that God gave these and
other instructions to Joshua, for though he is not
mentioned here, yet when Joshua was ordained bv
the imposition of hands to this great trust, God ap¬
pointed that Eleazar should ask counsel for him af¬
ter the judgment of Urim, and at his word, Joshua,
and all the children of Israel must, go out and come
in, Numb. 27. 21. 2. One man out of each tribe,
and he a chosen man, must be employed to prepare
materials for this monument, that each tribe might
have the story told them by one of themselves, and
each tribe might contribute something to the glory
of God thereby, v. 2, 4, Out of every tribe a man.
Not the Levites only, but every Israelite must, in
his place, help to make known to the sons of men
God’s mighty acts, Ps. 145. 12. The two tribes,
though seated already in their possession, yet shar¬
ing in the mercy, must lend a hand to the memorial
of it. 3. The stones that must be set up for this
memorial, are ordered to be taken out of the midst
cf the channel, (where, probably, there lav abun
JOSHUA, IV.
J4
dance of great stones,) and as near as might be from
the very place where the priests stood with the ark,
v. 8, 5. This intended monument deserved to
have been made of stones curiously cut with the
finest and most exquisite art, but these stones out
of the bottom of the river were more natural and
more apt indications of the miracle; let posterity
know by this, that Jordan was driven back, for
these very stones were then fetched out of it. In
the institution of signs, God always chose that
which was most proper and significant, rather chan
that which is pompous or curious; for God hath
chosen the foolish things of the world. These
twelve men, after they got over Jordan, must be
sent back to the place where the ark stood, being
permitted to come near it, (which others might
not,) for this service; pass over before the ark, v.
5. that is, “into the presence of the ark, which
now stands in the midst of Jordan, and thence fetch
these stones.” 4. The use of these stones is here
appointed for a sign, v. 6. a memorial, v. 7. They
would give occasion to the children to ask their pa¬
rents in time to come, How came these sto?ies thi¬
ther ? Probably the land about was not stony; but
the parents would inform them, as they themselves
had been informed, that in this place Jordan was
divided by the almighty power of God, to give Is¬
rael passage into Canaan, as Joshua enlarges on this
head, x\ 22, See.
II. According to these orders the thing was done.
1. Twelve stones were taken up out of the midst
of Jordan, and carried in the sight of the people to
the place where they had their head-quarters that
night, v. 8. It is probable that the stones they
took, were as big as they could well carry, and as
near a-s might be of a size and shape. But whether
they went away with them immediately to the
lace, or whether they staid to attend the ark, and
ept pace with the solemn precession of that, to
grace its triumphant entry into Canaan, is not cer¬
tain. By hese stones, which they were ordered to
take up, God did, as it were, give them livery and
seisin of this good land, it is all their own, let them
enter and take possession; therefore what these
twelve did, the children of Israel are said to do, v.
8. because they were' the representatives of their
respective tribes. In allusion to this, we may ob¬
serve, that when the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, hav¬
ing overcome the sharpness of death, and dried up
that Jordan, had opened the kingdom of heaven to
all believers, he appointed his twelve apostles, ac¬
cording to the number of the tribes of Israel, by the
memorial of the gospel to transmit the knowledge
of this to remote places and future ages.
2. Other twelve stones (probably, much larger
than the other, for we read not that they were each
of them one man’s load) were set up in the midst
of Jordan , v. 9. piled up so high in a heap or pillar,
as that the top of it might be seen above water,
when the river was low, or seen in the water, when '
it was clear, or at least the noise or commotion of
the water passing over it would be observable, and
the bargemen would avoid it, as they do a rock;
some wav or other, it is likely, it was discernible so
as to notify the very place where the ark stood, and
to serve for a duplicate to the other monument,
which was to be set on dry land in Gilgal, for the
confirming of its testimony, and the preserving of
its tradition. The sign being doubled, no doubt,
the thing was certain.
10. For the priests which hare the ark
stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing;
was finished that the Lord commanded
Joshua to speak unto the people, according;
to all that Moses commanded Joshua : and
the people hasted and passed over. 1 1 . And
it came to pass, when all the people were
clean passed over, that the ark of the Lord
passed over, and the priests, in the presence
of the people. 12. And the children of
Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half
the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed
before the children of Israel, as Moses
spake unto them: 13. About forty thou¬
sand prepared for war passed over before
the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jeri¬
cho. 14. On that day the Lord magnified
Joshua in the sight of all Israel ; and they
feared him, as they feared Moses, all the
days of his life. 15. And the Lord spake
unto Joshua, saying, 16. Command the
priests that bear the ark of the testimony,
that they come up out of Jordan. 17.
Joshua therefore commanded the priests,
saying, Come ye up out of Jordan. 18.
And it came to pass, w7hen the priests that
bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord
were come up out of the midst of Jordan,
and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted
up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jor¬
dan returned unto their place, and flowed
over all his banks, as they did before. 19.
And the people came up out of Jordan
on the tenth day of the first month, and en¬
camped in Gilgal, in the east border of Je¬
richo.
The inspired historian seems to be so well pleas¬
ed with his subject here, that he is loath to quit it,
and is therefore very particular in his narrative, es¬
pecially in observing how closely Joshua pursued
the orders God gave him, and that he did nothing
without divine direction, finishing all that the Lord
had commanded him, (x>. 10.) which is also said to
be what Moses commanded. We read not of any
particular commands that Moses gave Joshua about
this matter, the thing was altogether new to him.
It must therefore be understood of the general in¬
structions Moses had given him to follow the divine
conduct, to deliver that to the people, which he had
received of the Lord, and to take all occasions to
remind them of their duty to God, as the best re¬
turn for his favours to them: This which Moses,
who was now dead and gone, had said to him, he
had in mind at this time, and did accordingly. It is
well for us to have the good instructions that have
been given us, ready to us, when we have occasion
for them.
1. All the people hasted and passed over, v. 111.
Some understand it of the twelve men that carried
the stones, but it seems rather to be meant of the
body of the people; for though an account was given
of their passing over, v. 1. yet here it is repeated
for the sake of this circumstance, which was to be
added, that they passed over in haste, either becaust
Joshua by their officers ordered them to make haste,
for it was to be but one day’s work, and they must
not leave a hoof behind; or, perhaps, it was their
own inclination that hastened them. (1. ) Some hast¬
ed, because they were not able to trust God, they
were afraid the waters should return upon them,
being conscious of guilt, and diffident of the divine
power and goodness. (2.) Others, because they
were not willing to tempt God to continue the mira-
25
JOSHUA, IV.
cle longer than needs must, nor would they put the
patience cf the priests that bare the ark too much
to the stretch by unnecessary delay. (3. ) Others,
because they were eager to be in Canaan, and would
thus show how much they longed after that plea¬
sant land. (4. ) Those that considered least, yet
hasted because others did. He that believeth,
maketh haste, not to anticifiate God’s counsels, but
to attend them. Isa. 28. 16.
2. The two tribes and a half led the van, v. 12,
13. So they had promised, when they had theirlot
given them on that side Jordan, Numb. 32. 27.
And Joshua had lately reminded them cf their pro¬
mise, c/i. 1. 12, 8cc. It was fit that they who had
the first settlement, should be the first in the en¬
counter of difficulties, the rather, because they had
not the incumbrance of families with them as the
other tribes had, and they were all chosen men, and
fit for service, ready armed. It was a good provi¬
dence that they had so strong a body to lead them
on, and would be an encouragement to the rest.
And 'the two tribes had no reason to complain, the
post of danger is the post of honour.
3. When all the people were got clear to the
other side, the priests with the ark came up out of
Jordan. This, one would think, should have been
done of course, their own reason would tell them
that now there was no more occasion for them, and
yet they did not stir a step till Joshua ordered them
to move, and Joshua did not order them out of Jor¬
dan till God directed him to do so, v. 15 . . 17. So
observant were they of Joshua, and he of God,
which was their praise, as it was their happiness to
be under such good direction. How low a condition
soever God may at any time bring his priests or
people to, let them patiently wait, till by his provi¬
dence he shall call them up out of it, as the priests
here were called to come up out of Jordan, and let
them not be weary of waiting, while they have the
tokens of God’s presence with them, even the
ark of the covenant, in the depth of their ad¬
versity.
4. As soon as ever the priests and the ark were
come up out of Jordan, the waters of the river,
which had stood on a heap, gradually flowed down
according to their nature and usual course, and soon
filled the channel again, v. 18. This makes it yet
more evident, that the stop which had now been
given to the river, was not from any secret natural
cause; but purely from the power of God’s pre¬
sence, and for the sake of his Israel, for when Israel’s
turn was served, and the token of his presence was
removed, immediately the water went forward
again: so that if it be asked. What ailed thee, O
Jordan, that thou wast driven back? It must be
answered, It was purely in obedience to the God
of Israel, and in kindness to the Israel of God:
there is therefore none like unto the God of Jeshu-
run ; happy also art thou, 0 Israel! who is like unto
thee, 0 fieofile? Some observe here, by way of al¬
lusion, that when the ark and the priests that
bare it, are removed from any place, the flood-gates
are drawn up, the defence is departed, and an in¬
undation of judgments is to be- expected shortly.
Those that are unchurched, will soon be undone.
The glory is departed, if the ark be taken.
5. Notice is taken of the honour put upon Joshua
bv all this, v. 14. On that day the Lord magnified {
Joshua, both by the fellowship he admitted him to
with himself, speaking to him upon all occasions,
and being ready to be consulted by him, and by the
authority he confirmed in him, over both priests
and people. Those that honour God he will ho¬
nour, and when he will magnify a man, as he had
said he would magnify Joshua, (c/j. 3 7.) he will do
it effectually. Yet it was not for Joshua’s sake only
that he was thus magnified, but to put him in a ca-
Vol. II.— D
parity of doing so much the more service to Israel,
for hereupon they feared him as they feared Moses.
See here what is the best and surest way to com -
mand the respect of inferiors, and to gain their re¬
verence and observance, not by blustering and
threatening, and carrying it with a high hand, but
by holiness and love, and all possible indications
of a constant regard to their welfare, and to God’s
will and honour. Those are feared in the best
manner, and to the best purpose, who make it ap¬
pear that God is with them, and that they set him
before them. Those that are sanctified are truly
magnified, and are worthy of double honour. Fa
vourites of heaven should be looked on with awe.
6. An account is kept of the time of this great
event, v. 19. it was on the tenth day of the first
month , just forty years since they came out of
Egypt, wanting five days. God had said in his
wrath that they should wander forty years hi the
wilderness, but to make up that forty we must take
in the first year, which was then past, and had been
a year of triumph in their deliverance out of Egypt,
and this last, which had been a year of triumph
likewise on the other side Jordan, so that all the
forty were not years of sorrow; and at last he
brought them into Canaan, five days before the forty
years were ended, to show how little pleasure God
takes in punishing, how swift he is to show mercy,
and that for the elect’s sake the days of trouble are
shortetied, Matt. 24. 22. God ordered it so that
they should enter Canaan four days before the an¬
nual solemnity of the passover, and on the very day
when the preparation for it was to begin, Exod 12.
3. because he would have their entrance into Canaan
graced and sanctified with that religious feast, and
would have them to be reminded of their deliver¬
ance out of Egypt, that comparing them together,
God might be glorified as the Alpha and Omega of
their bliss.
20. And those twelve stones, which they
took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gil-
gal. 21. And he spake unto the children
of Israel, saying, When your children shall
ask their fathers in time to come, saying,
What mean these stones ? 22. Then ye
shall let your children know, saying, Israel
came over this Jordan on dry land. 23.
For the Lord your God dried up the wa¬
ters of Jordan from before you, until ye
were passed over, as the Lord your God
did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from
before us, until we were gone over : 24.
That all the people of the earth might
know the hand of the Lord, that it is
mighty ; that ye might fear the Lord your
God for ever.
The twelve stones which were laid down in Gil-
gal, v. 8. are here set up either one upon another,
yet so as that they might be distinctly counted, or
one by another in rows; for after they were fixed,
they are not called a heap, of stones, but these stones.
I. It is here taken for granted, that posterity
would inquire into the meaning of them, supposing
them intended for a memorial. Your children shall
ask their fathers, (for whom else should they ask?)
What mean these stones? Note, Those that will be
wise when they are old, must be inquisitive when
they are voung." Our Lord Jesus, though he had in
himself the fulness of knowledge, has by his exam¬
ple taught children and young people to hear and
26
JOSHUA, V.
•ask questions, Luke 2. 46. Perhaps when John
was baptizing in Jordan at Bethabara, (the house
of passage where the people passed over) he point¬
ed at these very stones, while saying, Matt. 3. 9,
God is able of these stones (which were at first set
up by the twelve tribes) to raise ufi children unto
Abraham. The stones being the memorial of the
miracles, the children’s question gave occasion for
the improvement of it; but our Saviour says, Luke
19. 40, If the children should hold their fleace, the
s 'ones would immediately cry out; for one way or
other the Lord will be glorified in his works of
wonder.
II. The parents are here directed what answer to
give to this inquiry, v. 22. “ Ye shall let your chil¬
dren know that which you have yourselves learned
from the written word, and from your fathers.”
Note, It is the duty of parents to acquaint their
children betimes with the word and works of God,
that they may be trained up in the way they should
g°-
1. They must let their children know that Jordan
was driven back before Israel, who went through it
ufion dry land, and, that this was the very place
where they passed over. They saw how deep and
strong a stream Jordan now was, but the divine
power put a stop to it, even then when it overflow¬
ed all its banks — “ and this for you, that live so
long after. ” Note, God's mercies to our ancestors
were mercies to us: and we should take all occa¬
sions to revive the remembrance of the great things
God did for our fathers in the days of olcl. The
place thus marked would be a memorandum to
them; Israel came over this Jordan. A local me¬
mory would be of use to them, and the sight of the
place remind them of that which was done there;
and not only the inhabitants of that country, but
strangers and travellers, would look upon ’ these
stones and receive instruction. Many, upon the
sight of the stones, would go to their bibles, and
there read the history of this wondrous work; and
some, perhaps, upon reading the history, though
living at a distance, would have the curiosity to go
and see the stones.
2. They must take that occasion to tell their chil¬
dren of the drving up of the Red-sea forty years
before, as the l^ord your God did to the Red Sea.
Note, (1.) It greatly magnifies later mercies to com¬
pare them with former mercies, for, by making the
comparison, it appears that God is the same yester¬
day, to-day, and forever. (2. ) Later mercies should
bring to remembrance former mercies, and revive
cur thankfulness for them.
3. They must put them in the way of making a
good use of these works of wonder, the knowledge
whereof was thus carefu’lv transmitted to them, v.
24. (1.) The power of God was hereby mag¬
nified. All the world was, or might be, convinced
that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that nothing is
too hard for God to do; nor can any power, no, not
that of nature itself, obstruct what God will effect.
The deliverances of God’s people are instructions to
all people, and fair warnings not to contend with
Omnipotence. (2.) The people of God were en¬
gaged and encouraged to persevere in his service;
“ That, ye might fear the I .or cl your God, and con¬
sequently do your duty to him, and this for ever;”
or all days, (Margin.) “Every day, all the
days cf your lives, and your seed throughout your
generations.” The remembrance of this wonder- {
ful work should effectually restrain them from the
worship of other gods, and constrain them to abide
and abound in the service of their own God. Note,
In all the instructions and informations parents give
their children, they should have chiefly in their eye
to teach and engage them to fear God for ever. Se¬
rious godliness is the best learning.
CHAP. V.
Israel is now got over Jordan, and the waters which had
opened before them to favour their inarch forward, are
closed again behind them to foibid their retreat back¬
ward ; they have now got footing in Canaan, and must
apply themselves to the conquest of it ; in order to which
this chapter tells us, I. How their enemies were dispirit¬
ed, v. 1. II. What was done at their first landing to as¬
sist and encourage them. 1. The covenant of circumci¬
sion was renewed, v. 2. .9. 2. The fe'ast of the passover
was celebrated, v. 10. 3. Their camp was victualled
with the corn of the land, whereupon the manna ceased,
v. 11, 12. 4. The Captain of the Lord’s host himself ap¬
peared to Joshua, to animate and direct him, v. 13. .15.
1. A ND it came to pass, when all the
f\. kings of the Amorites, which were
on the side of Jordan westward, and all
the kings of the Canaanites, which were by
the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up
the waters of Jordan from before the chil¬
dren of Israel, until we were passed over,
that their heart melted, neither was there
spirit in them any more, because of the
children of Israel. 2. At that time the
Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp
knives, and circumcise again the children
of Israel the second time. 3. And Joshua
made him sharp knives, and circumcised
the children of Israel at the hill of the fore¬
skins. 4. And this is the cause why Joshua
did circumcise : all the people that came
out of Egypt, that were males, even all the
men of war, died in the wilderness by the
way, after they came out of Egypt. 5.
Now all the people that came out were cir¬
cumcised : but all the people that were born
in the wilderness by the way as they came
forth out of Egypt, them they had not cir¬
cumcised. 6. For the children of Israel
walked forty years in the wilderness, till all
the people that were men of war, which
came out of Egypt, were consumed, be¬
cause they obeyed not the voice of the
Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that
he would not show them the land which
the Lord sware unto their fathers that he
would give us, a land that flowethwith milk
and honey. 7. And their children, whom
he raised up in their stead, them Joshua cir¬
cumcised : for they were uncircumcised,
because they had not circumcised them by
the way. 8. And it came to pass, when
they had done circumcising all the people,
that they abode in their places in the camp
till they were whole. 9. And the Lord
said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled
away the reproach of Egypt from off 3011.
Wherefore the name of the place is called
Gilgal unto this day.
A vast show, no doubt, the numerous camp ofls-
rael made in the plains of Jericho, where now thev
had pitched their tents; Who can count the dust of
Jacob? That which had lcngbeen the church m the
JOSHUA. V.
27
•wilderness, is now come up. from the wilderness,
leaning upon her Beloved, and looks forth as the
morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and ter¬
rible as an army with banners: how terrible she
was in the eyes of her enemies, we are here told,
v. 1. how fair and clear she was made in the eyes of
her friends, by the rolling away of the reproach of
Egypt, we are told in the following verses.
I. Here is the fright which the Canaanites were
put into by their miraculous passing over Jordan, v.
1. The news of it was soon dispersed all the coun¬
try over, not only as a prodigy in itself, but as an
alarm to all the kings and kingdoms of Canaan.
Now, as when Babylon was taken, One post runs
to meet, another, arid one messenger to meet another,
to carry the amazing tidings to every corner of their
land, Jer. 51. 31. And here we are told what im¬
pressions the tidings made upon the kings of this
land, their heart melted like wax before the fire,
neither was there spirit in them any more. This in¬
timates that though the heart of the people gene¬
rally had fainted before, as Rahab owned, ch. 2. 9.
yet the kings had till now kept up their spirits
pretty well, had promised themselves that, being in
possession, their country populous, and their cities
fortified, they should be able to make their part
good against the invaders; but when they heard, not
only that they were come over Jordan, and that that
defence of their country was broken through, but
that they were come over by a miracle, the God of
nature manifestly fighting for them, their hearts
failed them too, they gave up the cause for gone,
and were now at their wits’ end. And, 1. They had
reason enough to be afraid; Israel itself was a for¬
midable body, and much more so when God was its
head, a God of almighty power. What can make
he ;d against them, if Jordan be driven back before
them? 2. God impressed these fears upon them,
and dispirited them, as he had promised, Exod.
23. 2 7, I will send my fear before thee. God can
make the wicked to fear where no fear is, Ps. 53.
5. much more where there is such cause for fear as
was here. He that made the soul, can, when he
leases, make his sword thus to approach to it and
ill it with h's terrors.
II. The opportunity which this gave to the Is¬
raelites to circumcise those among them that were
uncircumcised, At that time, {y. 2.) when the coun¬
try about them was in that great consternation, God
ordered Joshua to circumcise the children of Israel,
for at that time it might be done with safety even
in an enemy’s country; their hearts being melted,
their hands were tied, that they could not take this
advantage against them as Simeon and Levi did
against the Shechemites, to come upon them when
they were sore. Joshua could not be sure of this,
and therefore if he had ordered this general cir¬
cumcision just at this time of his own head, he might
justly have been censured as imprudent, for how
good soever the thing was in itself, in the eye of
reason it was not seasonable at this time, and might
have been of dangerous consequence; but when God
commanded him to do it, he must not consult with
flesh and blood: he that bid them do it, no doubt,
would protect them and bear them out in it. Now
observe,
1. The occasion there was for this general cir¬
cumcision. (1.) All that came out of Egypt were
circumcised, v. 5. While they had peace in Egypt,
doubtless, they circumcised their children the
eighth day, according to the law. But after they
began to be oppressed, especially when the edict
was made for the destruction of their male infants,
(he administration of this ordinance was interrupted;
many of them were uncircumcised, of whom there
was a general circumcision, either during the time
of the three days’ darkness, as Dr. Lightfoot con¬
jectures, or a year after, just before their eating a
second passover at mount S.nai, and in order to that
solemnity, Numb. 9. 2. as many tjiink. And it is
with reference to that general circumcision, that
this here is called a second; v. 2. Bat the learned
Masius thinks it refers to the general circumcision
of Abraham’s Family, when th t ordinance was first
instituted, Gen. 17. 23. That first confirmed the
promise of the land of Canaan, this second was a
thankful celebration of the performance of that pro¬
mise. But, (2.) Ail that were bom in the wilder¬
ness, namely, after their walking in the wildei ness,
became by the divine sentence a judgment upon
them for their disobedience, as is intimated by that
repetition of the sentence, v. 6. all that were born
since that fatal d iy, on which God swore in his
wrath that none of that generation should enter mto
his rest, were uncircumcised.
But what shall we say to this? Had not God en¬
joined it to Abraham under a very severe penalty,
that every man-child of his seed should be circum¬
cised, on the eighth day? Gen. 17. 9* -14. Was it
not the seal of the everlasting covenant? Was not
so great a stress laid upon it then when they were
coming out of Egypt, that when immediately after
the first passover the law concerning that feast was
made perpetual, this was one clause of it, that no
uncircumcised person should eat of it, but should be
deemed as a stranger? And yet under the gm em¬
inent of Moses himself, to have all their children
that were born for thirty-eight years together left
uncircumcised, is unaccountable. So great an omis¬
sion could not be generally but by divine direction.
Now, [1.] Some think circumcision was omitted
because it was needless: it was appointed to be a
mark of distinction between the Israelites and other
nations, and therefore, in the wilderness, where
they were so perfectly separated from all, and min¬
gled With none, there was no occasion for it. [2.]
Others think that they did not look upon the precept
of circumcision as obligatory till they came to settle
in Canaan, for in the covenant made with them at
mount Sinai, nothing was said about circumcision,
neither was it of Moses but of the fathers, John 7.
22. and with particular reference to the grant of
the land of Canaan, Gen. 17. 8. [3.] Others think
that God favourably dispensed with the omission of
this ordinance in consideration of the unsettledness
of their state, and their frequent removes while they
were in the wilderness. It was requisite that chil¬
dren after they were circumcised, should rest for
some time while they were sore, and stirring them
might be dangerous to them; God therefore would
have mercy and not sacrifice. This reason is general¬
ly acquiesced in, but to me it is not satisfactory, fer
sometimes they stayed a year in a place, Numb. 9.
22. if not much longer; and in their removes the lit¬
tle children, though sore, might be wrapt so warm,
and carried so easy, as to receive no damage, and
might certainly be much better accommodated than
the mothers in travail or while lying-in. Therefore,
[4.1 To me it seems to have been a continued token
of God’s displeasure against them for their unbelief
and murmuring. Circumcision was originally a
seal of the promise of the land of Canaan, as we ob¬
served before. It was in the believing hope of that
good land, that the patriarchs circumcised their
children: but when God had sworn in his wrath
concerning the men of war which came out of
Egypt, that they should be consumed in the wilder¬
ness, and never enter Canaan, nor come within
sight of it, (as that sentence is here repeated, v. 6.
reference being made to it,) as a further ratification
of that sentence, and to be a constant memorandum
of -it to them, all that fell under that sentence, and
were to fall by it, were forbidden to circumcise their
children; by which they were plainly told, that
28
JOSHUA, V.
whatever others might, they should never have the
benefit of that promise which circumcision was the
seal of. And this was such a significant indication
of God’s wrath, as the breaking of the tables of the
covenant was, when Israel had broken the covenant
by making the golden calf. It is true, there is no
express mention of this judicial prohibition in the
account of that sentence; but an intimation of it,
Numb. 14. 33, Your children shall bear your
whoredoms. It is probable, the children of Caleb
and Joshua were circumcised, for they were ex¬
cepted out of that sentence, and of Caleb it is par¬
ticularly said, To him will I give the land, and
to his children, Deut. 1. 36. which was the very
promise that circumcision was the seal of: and Josh¬
ua is here bid to circumcise the people, not his own
family. Whatever the reason was, it seems that
this great ordinance was omitted in Israel for almost
forty years together, which is a plain indication that
it was not of absolute necessity, nor was to be of
perpetual obligation, but should in the fulness of
time be abolished, as now it was for so long a time
suspended.
2. The orders given to Joshua for this general
circumcision, ~v. 2, Circumcise again the children of
Israel, not the same persons, but the body of the
people. Why was this ordered to be done now?
Answ. (1.) Because now the promise which cir¬
cumcision was instituted to be the seal of, was per¬
formed. The seed of Israel was brought safe into
the land of Canaan, “ Let them therefore hereby
own the truth of that promise which their fathers
had disbelieved, and could not find in their hearts
to trust to.” (2.) Because now the threatening
which the suspending of circumcision for thirty-
eight years was the ratification of, was fully exe¬
cuted by the expiring of the forty years. That
warfare is accomplished, that iniquity is pardoned,
(Isa. 40. 2.) and therefore now the seal of the cove¬
nant is revived again. But why was it not done
sooner — why not while they were resting some
months in the plains of Moab — why not during the
thirty days of their mourning for Moses — why was
it net deferyed longer till they had made some pro¬
gress in the conquest of Canaan, and had gained a
settlement there, at least till they had intrenched
themselves, and fortified their camp — why must it
be done the very next day after they were come
over Jordan? Answ. Because divine wisdom saw
that to be the fittest time, just when the forty years
were ended, and they had entered Canaan; and the
reasons which human wisdom would have offered
against it, were easily over-ruled. [1.] God would
hereby show that the camp of Israel was not gov¬
erned by the ordinary rules and measures of war,
but by immediate direction from God, who, by thus
exposing them, in the most dangerous moments,
magnified his own power in protecting them, even
then. And this great instance of security, in disa¬
bling themselves for action just then when they
were entering upon action, proclaimed such confi¬
dence in the divine care for their safety as would
increase their enemies’ fears: much more when
their scouts informed them not only of the thing
itself that was done, but of the meaning of it; that
it was a seal of the grant of this land of Israel. [2.]
God would hereby animate his people Israel against
the difficulties they were now to encounter, by con¬
firming his covenant with them, which gave them
unquestionable assurance of victory and success, and
the full possession of the land of promise. [3.] God
would hereby teach them, and us with them, in all
great undertakings to begin with God, to make sure
of his favour, by offering ourselves to him a living
sacrifice, (for that was signified by the blood of cir¬
cumcision,) and then we may expect to prosper in
all we do. [4.] The reviving of circumcision, after
it had been so long disused, was designed to revive
the observation of other institutions, the omission of
which had been connived at in the wilderness.
This command to circumcise them was to remind
them of that which Moses had told them, Deut. 12.
8. that when they were come over Jordan they
must not do as they had done in the wilderness,
but must come under a stricter discipline. It was
said concerning many of the laws God had given
them, that they must observe them in the land to
which they were going, Deut. 6. 1..12. 1. [5.] This
second circumcision, as it is here called, was typical
of the spiritual circumcision with which the Israel
of God, when they enter into the gospel-rest, are
circumcised; it is the learned Bishop Pierson’s ob¬
servation, That this circumcision being performed
under the conduct of Joshua, Moses’s successor, it
points to Jesus as the true Circumciser, the Author
of another circumcision than that of the flesh, com¬
manded by the law, even the circumcision of the
heart, Rom. 2. 29. called the circumcision of Christ ,
Col. 2. 11.
3. The people’s obedience to these orders. Joshua
circumcised the children of Israel, v. 3. not himself
with his own hands, but he commanded that it
should be done, and took care that it was done: it
might soon be despatched, for it was not necessary
that it should be done by a priest or Levite, but any
one might be employed to do it. All those that
were under twenty years old when the people were
numbered at mount Sinai, and not being numbered
with them, fell not by the fatal sentence, were cir¬
cumcised, and by them all the rest might be cir¬
cumcised in a little time. The people had promised
to hearken to Joshua, as they had hearkened to
Moses, ch. 1. 17. and here they gave an instance of
their dutifulness, submitting to this painful institu¬
tion, and not calling him for the sake of it a bloody
governor, as Z.ipporah because of the circumcision
called Moses a bloody husband.
Lastly, The names given to the place where this
was done, to perpetuate the memory of it. (1.) It
was called the hill of the foreskins, v. 3. Probably,
the foreskins that were cut off, were laid on a heap,
and covered with earth, so that they made a little
hillock. (2.) It was called Gilgal, from a word
which signifies to take away, from that which God
said to Joshua, v. 2, This day have I rolled away
the reproach of Egypt. God is jealous for the ho¬
nour of his people, his own honour being so much
interested in it; and whatever reproach they may
lie under for a time, first or last it will certainly be'
rolled away, and every tongue that riseth up against
them, he will condemn. [1.] Their circumcision
rolled away the reproach of Egypt. They were
hereby owned to be the free-born children of God,
having the seal of the covenant in their flesh, and so
the reproach of their bondage in Egypt was remov¬
ed. They were tainted with the idolatry of Egypt,
and that was their reproach; but now that they
were circumcised, it was to be hoped they would be
so entirely devoted to God, that the reproach of
their affection to Egypt would be rolled away. [2.]
Their coming safe to Canaan rolled away the ? -
proach of Egypt, for it silenced that spiteful sug¬
gestion of the Egyptians, that for mischief they
were brought out, the wilderness had shut them in,
Exod. 14. 3. Their wandering so long in the wil¬
derness confirmed the reproach, but now that they
had entered Canaan in triumph, that reproach was
done away. When God glorifies himself in per¬
fecting the salvation of his people, he not only sik n-
ces the reproach of their enemies, but rolls it u] < n
themselves.
10. And the children of Israel encamped
in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the four-
29
JOSHUA, V.
teentli day of the month, at even, in the
plains of Jericho. 1 1 . And they did eat of the
old com of the land, on the morrow after the
passover, unleavened cakes and parched
corn in the self-same day. 12. And the man¬
na ceased on the morrow after they had
eaten of the old corn of the land ; neither
had the children of Israel manna any more ;
but they did eat of the fruit of the land of
Canaan that year.
We may well imagine that the people of Canaan
were astonished, and that when they observed the
motions of the enemy they could not but think them
very strange. When soldiers take the field, they
are apt to think themselves excused from religious
exercises, (they have not time or thought to attend
them,) yet Joshua opens the campaign with one act
of devotion after another. What was afterwards
said to another Joshua, might truly be said to this,
Hear notv, O Joshua, thou, and thy fellows that sit
before thee, are men wondered at, Zech. 3. 8. and
yet indeed he took the right method. This is likely
to end well, that begins with God.
Here is,
I. A solemn passover kept, at the time appointed
by the law, the fourteenth day of the frst month ,
and in the same place where they were circumcised,
v. 10. While they were wandering in the wilder¬
ness, they were denied the benefit and comfort of
this ordinance, as a further token of God’s displea¬
sure; but now, in answer to the prayer of Moses,
upon the passing of that sentence, Ps. 90. 15. God
comforted them again, after the time that he had
afflicted them, and therefore now that joyful ordi¬
nance is revived again. Now that they had entered
into Canaan, it was very reasonable to remember
those wondrous works of divine power and good¬
ness, by which they were brought out of Egypt.
The finishing of mercies should bring to mind the
beginning of them ; and when it is perfect day we
must not forget how welcome the morning light was,
when we had long waited for it. The solemn pass-
over followed immediately after the solemn circum¬
cision; thus, when they that received the word
were baptized, immediately we find them breaking
of bread. Acts 2. 41, 42. They kept this passover
in the plains of Jericho, as it were in defiance of the
Canaanites that were round about them and enrag¬
ed against them, and yet could not give them any
disturbance. Thus God gave them an early instance
of the performance of that promise, that when they
went up to keep the feasts, their land should be
taken under the special protection of the Divine
Providence, Exod. 34. 24, Neither shall any man
desire thi / land. He now prepared a table before
them m the presence of their enemies, Ps. 23. 5.
IT. Provision made for their camp of the com of
their land, and the ceasing of the manna thereupon,
7'. 11, 12. Manna was a wonderful mercy to them
when they needed it; but it was the mark of a wil¬
derness state, it was the food of children, and there¬
fore, though it was angels’ food, and not to be com¬
plained of as light bread, yet it would be more ac¬
ceptable to them to eat of the com of the land, and
that they are now furnished with; the country peo¬
ple being retired for safety into Jericho, left their
barns and fields, and all that was in them, which
served for the subsistence of this great army. And
the supply came very seasonable, for, 1. After the
passover, they were to keep the feast of unleavened
bread, which they could not do according to the ap¬
pointment, when they had nothing but manna to
live upon; perhaps this was one reason why it was
intermitted in the wilderness. But now they found
old corn enough in the bam of the Canaanites to
supply them plentifully for that occasion; thus the
wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, and little
did they who laid it up, think, whose all these things
should be, which they had provided. 2. On the mor¬
row alter thepassover-sabbath, they were to wave
the sheaf of first-fruits before the Lord, Lev. 23. 10,
11. And this they were particularly ordered to do,
when they were come into the land which God would
give them; and they were furnished for this with the
fruit of tjie land that year, v. 12. which was then
growing and beginning to be ripe. Thus the> were
well provided for, both with old atid new corn, as
good householders. Matt. 13. 52. And as soon as
ever the fruits of this good land came to their
hands, they had an opportunity of honouring God
with them, and employing them in his service ac¬
cording to his appointment. And thus, behold all
things are clean and comfortable to them. Calvin
is of opinion, that they had kept the passo\ er ever)’
year in its season during their wandering in the
wilderness, though it is not mentioned, and that
God dispensed with their being uncircumcised, as
he did notwithstanding that, admit them to offer
other sacrifices. But some gather from Amos 5.
25. that after the sentence passed upon them, there
were no sacrifices offered till they came to Canaan,
and consequently no passover kept. And it is ob¬
servable, that after that sentence, Numb. 14. the
law which follows, ch. 15. concerning sacrifices, be¬
gins, v. 2, When ye shall be come into the land of
your habitations, you shall do so and so.
Notice is taken of the ceasing of the manna as
soon as ever they had eaten the old com of the
land; (1.) To show that it did not come by chance
or common providence, as snow or hail does, but
by the special designation of divine wisdom and
goodness; for as it came just when they needed it,
so it continued as long as they had occasion for it,
and no longer. (2.) To teach us not to expect ex¬
traordinary supplies, when they may be had in an
ordinary way. If God had dealt with Israel ac¬
cording to their deserts, the manna had ceased then
when they called it light bread; but as long as they
needed it, God continued it, though they despised it;
and now that they needed not, God "withdrew it,
though perhaps some of them desired it. He is a
wise Father, who knows the necessities of his chil¬
dren, and accommodates his gifts to them, not to
their humours. The word and ordinances of God
are spiritual manna, with which God nourishes his
people in this wilderness, and though often forfeit¬
ed, yet they are continued while we are here; but
when we come to the heavenly Canaan, this manna
will cease, for we no longer have need of it.
1 3. And it came to pass, when Joshua
was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and
looked, and behold, *here stood a man over
against him with his sword drawn in his
hand : and Joshua went unto him, and said
unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adver¬
saries ? 14. And he said, Nay; but as
captain of the host of the Lord am I now
come. And Joshua fell on his face to the
earth, and did worship, and said unto him,
What saith my Lord unto his servant?
15. And the captain of the Lord s host
said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off
thy foot ; for the place whereon thou stand-
est is holy. And Joshua did so.
We have hitherto found God often speak to
Joshua, but we read not till now of any appearance
30
JOSHUA, V.
of God’s glory to him; now that his difficulties in¬
creased, his encouragements were increased in pro¬
portion. Observe,
I. The time when he was favoured with this
vision; it was immediately after he had performed
the great solemnities of circumcision, and the pass-
over; then God made himself known to him. Note,
We may then expect the discoveries of the divine
grace, when we are found in the way of our duty,
and are diligent and sincere in our attendance on
holy ordinances.
II. Tire place where he had this visioh; it was
by Jericho, in Jericho, so the word is, in it by faith
and hope, though as yet he had not begun to lay
siege to it; in it in thought and expectation, or in
the fields of Jericho, hard by the city; there, it
should seem, he was all alone, fearless of danger,
because sure of the divine protection. There he
was (some think) meditating and praying, and to
those who are so employed, God often graciously
manifests himself. Or, perhaps, there he was to
take a view of the city, to observe its fortifications,
and contrive how to attack it, and perhaps he was
at a loss within himself how to make his approach¬
es, when God came and directed him. Note, God
will help, those that help themselves; Vigilantibus
non dormientibus succurrit lex — The law succours
those who watch, not. those who sleep. Joshua was
in his post, as a General, when God came and
made himself known to him as Generalissimo.
III. The appearance itself ; Joshua, as is usual
with those that are full of thought and care, was
looking downward, his eyes fixed on the ground,
when of a sudden he was surprised with the ap¬
pearance of a man who stood before him at some
little distance, which obliged him to lift up his eyes,
and gave a diversion to his musings, v. 13. he ap¬
peared unto him as a man, but a considerable man,
and one fit to be taken notice of. Now, 1. We have
reason to think that this man was the Son of God,
the eternal Word, who before he assumed the hu¬
man nature for a perpetuity, frequently appeared
in a human shape. So Bishop Patrick thinks, con¬
sonant to the judgment of the Fathers. Joshua
gave him divine honours, and he received them,
which a created angel would not have done, and he
is called Jehovah, ch. 6. 2. 2. He here appeared
as a soldier, with his- sword drawn in his hand. To
Abraham in his tent, he appeared as a traveller; to
Joshua in the field as a man of war: Christ will be
to his people what their faith expects and desires.
Christ had his sword drawn, which served, (1.)
To justify the war Joshua was engaging in, and to
show him that it was of God, who gave him com¬
mission to kill and slay. If the sovereign draw the
sword, that proclaims war, and authorises the sub¬
ject to do so too. The sword is then well drawn
when Christ draws it, and gives the banner to them
that fear him, to be displayed because of the truth,
Ps. 60. 4. (2.) To encourage him to carry it on
with vigour; for Christ’s sword drawn in his hand
denotes how ready he is for the defence and salva¬
tion of his people, who through him shall do va¬
liantly. His sword turns every way.
IV. The bold question with which Joshua ac¬
costed him; he did not send a servant, but stept up
to him himself, and asked, Art thou for us, or for
our adversaries? Which intimates his readiness to
entertain him if he were for them, and to fight him
if he were against them. This speaks, 1. His great
courage and resolution. He was not ruffled by the
suddenness of the appearance, nor daunted with
the majesty and bravery, which no doubt appeared
in the countenance of the person he saw; but, with
a presence of mind that became so great a General,
put this fair question to him. God had bid Joshua
be courageous, and by this it appears that he was
so; for what God by his word requires of his peo
pie, he does by his grace work in them. 2. His
great concern for the people and their cause; so
heartily has he embarked in the interests of Israel,
that none shall stand by him with the face of a man,
but he will know whether he be a friend or a fee.
It should seem, he suspected him for an enemy, a
Goliath that was come to destroy the armies of the
living God, and to give him a challenge. Thus
apt are we to look upon that as against us, which is
most for us. The question plainly implies, that
the cause between the Israelites and Canaanites,
between Christ and Beelzebub, will not admit of
a neutrality. He that is not with us, is against us.
V. The account he gave of himself, v. 14.
“Nay, not for your adversaries, you may be
sure, but as Captain of the host of the Lord am 1
now come, not only for you as a friend, but over
you, as commander in chief.” Here were now, as
of old, Gen. 32. 2, Mahanaim, two hosts, a host of
Israelites ready to engage the Canaanites, and a host
of angels to protect them therein, and he, as Captain
of both, conducts the host of Israel, and commands
the host of angels to their assistance. Perhaps in
allusion to this, Christ is called the Captain of our
salvatioti, Heb. 2. 10. and a Leader and Com¬
mander to the people, Isa. 55. 4. They cannot but
be victorious, that have such a Captain. He now
came as Captain to review the troops, to animate
them, and to give the necessary oi’ders for the be¬
sieging of Jericho.
VI. The great respect Joshua paid him when he
understood who he was; it is probable that he per¬
ceived not only by what he said, but by some other
sensible indications, that he was a divine person,
and not a man.
1. Joshua paid homage to him. He fell on his
face to the earth and did worship. Joshua was him¬
self General of the forces of Israel, and yet he wrs
far from looking with jealousy upon this stranger,
who produced a commission as Captain of the
Lord’s host above him; he did not offer to dispute
his claims, but cheerfully submitted to him as his
commander. It well becomes the greatest men to
be humble and reverent in their addresses to God.
2. He begged to receive commands and direc¬
tions from him, What saith my Lord unto his ser¬
vant? His former question was not more bold and
soldier-like, than this was pious and saint-like; nor
was it any disparagement to the greatness of Josh¬
ua’s spirit, thus to humble himself when he had
to do with God: even crowned heads cannot bow
too low before the throne of the Lord Jesus, who is
King of kings, Ps. 2. 10, 11. — 72. 10, 11. Rev. 19.
16. Observe, (1.) The relation he owns between
himself and Christ; that Christ was his Lord, and
himself his servant and under his command, Christ
his Captain, and himself a soldier under him, to do
as he is bidden, Matt. 8. 9. Note, The foundation
of all acceptable obedience is laid in a sincere dedi¬
cation of ourselves, as servants to Jesus Christ as
our Lord, Ps. 16.2. (2.) The inquiry he makes
pursuant to this relation, What saith my Lord?
Which implies an earnest desire to know the will
of Christ, and a cheerful readiness and resolution
to do it. Joshua owns himself an inferior officer,
and stands to receive orders; this temper of mind
shows him fit for the post he was in, for those
know best how to command, that know how to
obey.
VII. The further expressions of reverence
which this divine Captain required from Joshua,
v. 15, I^oose thy shoe from off thy foot, in token ot
reverence and respect, which with us are signified
by uncovering the head; and as an acknowledge
mentof a divine presence, which, while it continued
there, did in a manner sanctify the place and dig
31
JOSHUA, VI.
nify it. We often say of a person whom we have a
great affection for, that we love the very ground he
goes upon; thus Joshua must show his reverence
for this divine person, he must not tread the ground
he stood on with his shoes on, Eccl. 5. 1. Outward
expressions of inward reverence, and a religious
awe of God, well become us, and are required of
us, whenever we approach to him in solemn ordi¬
nances. Bishop Patrick well observes here, that the
very same orders that God gave to Moses at the bush,
when he was sending him to bring Israel out of
Egvpt, Exod. 3. 5. he here gives to Joshua, for the
confirming of his faith in the promise he had lately
given him, that as he had been with Moses, so he
would be with him, ch. 1. 5. Had Mo£es such a
presence of God with him, as, when it became sen¬
sible, sanctified the ground? So had Joshua.
And ( lastly ) Hereby he prepares him to receive
the instructions he was about to give him, concern¬
ing the siege of Jericho, which this captain of the
Lord’s host was now come to give Israel posses¬
sion of.
CHAP. VI.
Joshua opened the campaign with the siege of Jericho, a
city which could not trust so much to the courage of its
people, as to act offensively and to send out. its forces to
oppose Israel’s landing and encamping, but trusted so
much to the strength of its walls, as to stand upon its
defence, and not to surrender, or desire conditions of
peace. Now here we have the story of the taking of it.
I. The directions and assurances which the Captain of
the Lord’s host gave concerning it, v. 1 . . 5. II. The
trial of the people’s patient obedience in walking round
the city six days, v. 6 . . 14. III. The wonderful delivery
of it into their hands the seventh day, with a solemn
charge to them to use it as a devoted thing, v. 15.. 21.
and v. 24. IV. The preservation of Rahab and her rela¬
tions, v. 22, 23, 25. V. A curse pronounced upon the man
that should dare to rebuild this city, w 26, 27. An ab¬
stract of this story we find among the trophies of faith,
Heb. 11. 30, By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, af¬
ter they were compassed about seven days.
1. 1%TQW Jericho was straitly shut up,
11 because of the children of Israel :
none went out, and none came in. 2. And
the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have
given into thine hand Jericho, and the king
thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 3.
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men
of war, and go round about the city once.
Thus shalt thou do six days. 4. And se¬
ven priests shall bear before the ark seven
trumpets of rams’ horns : and the seventh
day ye shall compass the city seven times,
and the. priests shall blow with the trum¬
pets. 5. And it shall come to pass, that
when they make a long blast with the rams’
horns, and when ye hear the sound of the
trumpet, all the people shall shout with a
great shout ; and the wall of the city shall
fall down flat, and the people shall ascend
up, every man straight before him.
We have here a contest between God and the
men of Jericho, and their different resolutions, upon
which it is easy to say whose word shall prevail.
I. Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master,
v. 1. It was straitly shut up, because of the chil¬
dren of Israel it dia shut tip, and it was shut up.
So it is in the margin, it did shut up itself, being
strongly fortified both by art and nature, and it was
shut up, by the obstinacy and resolution of the in¬
habitants, who agreed never to surrender or so
much as sound a parley; none went out as deserters
or to treat of peace, nor were any admitted in to
offer peace. Thus were they infatuated, and their
hearts hardened to their own destruction — the mise-
■ rable case and character of all those that strengthen
themselves against the Almighty, Job 15. 25.
II. God resolves Israel shall be its master, and
that quickly. The captain of the Lord’s host, here
called Jehovah, taking notice how strongly Jericho
was fortified, and how strictly guarded, and know¬
ing Joshua’s thoughts and cares about reducing it,
I and perhaps his fears of a disgrace there, and of
stumbling at the threshold, gave him here all the
assurance he could desire of success, v. 2, See, I
have given into thine hand Jericho. Not, “J will
do it, but I have done it; it is all thine own, as sure
as if it were already in thy possession.” It was de-
! signed that this city, being the first-fruits of Canaan,
! should be entirely devoted to God, and that neither
Joshua nor Israel should ever be one mite the richer
for it, and yet it is here said to be give?i into their
hand, for we must reckon that most our own,
which we have an opportunity of honouring God
with, and employing in his service.
Now, 1. The Captain of the Lord’s host gives
directions how the city should be besieged. No
trenches are to be opened, no batteries erected, or
battering rams drawn up, nor any military prepa¬
rations made; but the ark of God must be carried
by the priests round the city, onc.e a day for six days
together, and seven times the seventh day, attended
by the men of war in silence, the priests all the
while blowing with trumpets of ram’s horns, v. 3,
4. This was all they were to do.
2. He assures them, that on the seventh day be¬
fore night, they should without fail, be masters of
the town; upon a s'gnal given, they must all shout,
and immediately the wall should fall down, which
would not only expose the inhabitants, but so dis¬
pirit them, that they would not be able to make
any resistance, v. 5. God appointed this way, (1.)
To magnify his olvn power, that he might be ex¬
alted in his own strength, Ps. 21. 13. not in the
strength of instruments. God would hereby yet
further make bare his own almighty arm for the
encouragement of Israel, and the terror and con¬
fusion of the Canaanites. (2.) To put an honour
upon his ark, the instituted token of his presence,
and to give a reason for the laws, by which the peo¬
ple were obliged to look upon it with the most pro¬
found veneration and respect. When, leng after
this, the ark was brought into the camp without
orders from God, it was looked upon as a profana¬
tion of it, and the people paid dear for their pre¬
sumption, 1 Sam. 4. 3, &c. But now that it was
done by the divine appointment, it was an honour to
the ark of God, and a great encouragement to the
faith of Israel. (3.) It was likewise to put honour
upon the priests, who were appointed upon this oc¬
casion to carry the ark, and sound the trumpets.
Ordinarily, the priests were excused from war;
that that privilege, with other honours and powers
that the law had given them, might not be grudged
them, in this service they are principally employed,
and so the people are made sensible what blessings
they were to the public, and how well worthy of all
the advantages conferred upon them. (4. ) It was
to try the faith, obedience, and patience, of the
people, to try w’hether they would observe a pre¬
cept, which to human policy seemed foolish to
obey, and believe a promise which inhuman proba¬
bility seemed impossible to be performed. They
were also proved, whether they could patiently
bear the reproaches of their enemies, and patiently
wait for the salvation of the Lord. Thus, by faith,
not by force, the walls of Jericho fell down. (5.1
32
JOSHUA, VI.
It was to encourage the hope of Israel, with refer¬
ence to the remaining difficulties that were before
them. That suggestion of the evil spies, that Ca¬
naan could never be conquered, because the cities
were walled, u/i to heaven, (Deut. 1. 28.) would by
this be for ever silenced. The strongest and high¬
est walls cannot hold out against Omnipotence;
they needed not to fight, and therefore needed not
to fear, because God fought for them.
6. And Joshua the son of Nun called
the priests, and said unto them, Take up
the ark of the covenant, and let seven
priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns
before the ark of the Lord. 7. And he
said unto the people, Pass on, and compass
the city, and let him that is armed pass on
before the ark of the Lord. 8. And it
came to pass, when Joshua had spoken
unto the people, that the seven priests bear¬
ing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns
passed on before the Lord, and blew with
the trumpets ; and the ark of the covenant
of the Lord followed them. 9. And the
armed men went before the priests that
blew with the trumpets, and the rearward
came after the ark, the priests going on, and
blowing with the trumpets. 10. And Joshua
had commanded the people, saying, Ye
shall not shout nor make any noise with
your voice, neither shall any word proceed
out of your mouth, until the day I bid you
shout ; then shall ye shout. 1 1 . So the ark
of the Lord compassed the city, going
about it once : and they came into the
camp, and lodged in the camp. 12. And
Joshua rose early in the morning, and the
priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13.
And seven priests, bearing seven trumpets
of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord,
went on continually, and blew with the
trumpets : and the armed men went before
them but the rearward came after the ark
of the Lord, the priests going on, and
blowing with the trumpets. 14. And the
second day they compassed the city once,
and returned into the camp-: so they did
six days. 1 5. And it came to pass on the
seventh day, that they rose early about the
dawning of the day, and compassed the
city after the same manner seven times :
only on that day they compassed the city
seven times. 16. And it came to pass at
the seventh time, when the priests blew
with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the
people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you
the city.
We have here an account of the cavalcade which
Israel made about Jericho, the orders Joshua gave
concerning it, as he had received them from the
Lord, and their punctual observance of these orders.
We do not find that he gave the people the express
assurances God had given him, that he would de¬
liver the city into their hands; he tried whether
they would obey orders with a general confidence
that it would end well, and we find them very ob¬
servant both of God and Joshua.
I. Wherever the ark went the people attended
it, v. 9. The armed men went before it to clear
the way, not thinking it any disparagement to them,
though they were men of war, to be pioneers to the
ark of God. If any obstacle should be found in
crossing all the roads that led to the city, (which
they must do in walking round it,) they would re¬
move it; if any opposition should be made by the
enemy, they would encounter it, that the priests’
march with the ark might be easy and safe. It is
an honour to the greatest of men to do any good
office to the ark, and to serve the interests of re¬
ligion in their country. The rearward, either
another body of armed men, or Dan’s squadron,
which marched last through the wilderness, or, as
some think, the multitude of the people who were
not armed or disciplined for war, (as many of them
as would,) followed the ark, to testify their respects
to it, to grace the solemnity, and to be witnesses of
what was done. Every faithful zealous Israelite
would be willing to undergo the same fatigues, and run
the same hazard with the priests that bare the ark.
II. Seven priests went immediately before the
ark, having trumpets in their hands, with which
they were continually sounding, v. 4, 5, 9, 13. The
priests were God’s ministers, and thus in his name,
1. They proclaimed war with the Canaanites, and
so struck a terror upon them; for by terrors upon
their spirits they were to be conquered and sub¬
dued. Thus God’s ministers, by the solemn decla¬
rations of his wrath against all ungodliness, and
unrighteousness of men, must blow the trumpet in
Sion, and sound an alarm in the holy mountain, that
the sinners in' Sion may be afraid. They are God’s
heralds to denounce war against pll those that go on
still in their trespasses, but say, “We shall have
peace, though we go on.” 2. They proclaimed
God’s gracious presence with Israel, and so put life
and courage into them. It was appointed that
when they went to war, the priests should en¬
courage them with the assurance of God’s presence
with them, Deut. 20. 2 . . 4. And particularly
their blowing with trumpets was to be a sign to the
people, that they should be remembered before the
Lord their God in the day of battle, Numb. 10. 9.
It encouraged Abijah, 2 Chron. 13. 12. Thus
God’s ministers, by sounding the Jubilee trumpet
of the everlasting gospel, which proclaims liberty
and victory, must encourage the good soldiers of
Jesus Christ in their spiritual warfare.
III. The trumpets they used, were not these
silver trumpets which were appointed to be made
for their ordinary sendee, but trumpets of rams’
horns, bored hollow for the purpose, as some think;
these trumpets were of the basest matter, duller
sound, and least show, that the excellency of the
power might be of God. Thus by the foolishness
of preaching, fitly compared to the sounding ot
these rams’ horns, the devil’s kingdom is thrown
down, and the weapons of our warfare, though
they are not carnal, nor seem to a carnal eye likely
to bring any thing to pass, are yet mighty through
God to the pulling down of strong folds, 2 Cor.
10. 4, 5. The word here is trumpets of Jobel, that
is, such trumpets as they used to blow withal in the
year of jubilee; many interpreters understand it so,
as signifying the complete liberty to which Israel
was now brought, and the bringing of the land of
Canaan into the hands of its just and rightful
owners.
IV. All the people were commanded to be silent,
not to speak a word, nor make any noise, v. 10. that
they might the more carefully attend to the sound
33
JOSHUA, VI.
of the sacred trumpets, which they were now to
look upon as the voice of God among them; and it
does not become us to speak when God is speaking.
It likewise intimates their reverent expectation of
the event, Zech. 2. 13, Be silent, O all Jlesh before
the Lord. Exod. 14. 14, God shall fight, and ye
shall hold your peace.
V. They were to do this once a day for six days
together, and seven times the seventh day, v. 14,
15. God could have caused the walls of Jericho to
fall upon the first surrounding of them, but they
must go round them thirteen times before they fall,
that they might be kept waiting patiently for the
Lord. Though they were lately come into Canaan,
and their time was very precious, (for they had a
great deal of work before them,) yet they must
linger so many days about Jericho, seeming to do
nothing, nor to make any progress in their business.
As promised deliverances must be expected in
God’s wav, so they must be expected in his time.
He that believes, does not make haste, not more
haste than God would have him make. Go yet
sex'en times before any thing hopeful appears, 1
Kings 18. 43.
VI. One of these days must needs be a sabbath-
day, and the Jews say that it was the last, but that
is not certain; however, if he that appointed them
to rest on the other sabbath-days, appointed them
to walk on this, that was sufficient to justify them in
it; he never intended to bind himself by his own
laws, but that when he pleased he might dispense 1
with them. The impotent man went upon this
principle when he argued, John 5. 11, He that
made me mhole (and therefore has a divine power,)
he said unto me, Take up thy bed. And in this
case here, it was an honour to the sabbath-day, by
which our time is divided into weeks, that just
seven days were to be spent in this work, and seven
priests were employed to sound seven trumpets;
that number being, on this occasion, as well as
many others, made remarkable, in remembrance
of the six days’ work of creation, and the seventh
day’s rest from it. And, besides, the law of the
sabbath forbids our own work, which is servile and
secular, but this which they did, was a religious act.
It is certainly no breach of the sabbath-rest to do
the sabbath- work, for the sake of which the rest
was instituted; and what is the sabbath- work but to
attend the'ark in all its motions?
VII. They continued to do this, during the time
appointed, and seven times the seventh day, though
they saw not any effect of it, believing that at the
end the vision mould speak and not lie, Hab. 2. 3.
If we persevere in the way of duty, we shall lose
nothing by it in the long run. It is probable they
walked at such a distance from the walls, as to be
out of the reach of the enemies’ arrows, and out of
the hearing of their scoffs. We may suppose the
oddness of the thing did at first amuse the besieged,
but by the seventh day they were grown secure,
feeling no harm from that, which perhaps they look¬
ed upon as an enchantment. Probably, they bantered
the besiegers, as they, Neh. 4. 2, “ What do these fee¬
ble Jems ? Is this the people they thought so formi¬
dable? Are these their methods of attack?” Thus
they cried Peace and Safety, that the destruction
might be the more terrible when it came. Wicked
men (says Bishop Hall) think God in jest mhen he
is prepaying for their judgment; but they will be
convinced of their mistake when it is too late.
VIII. At last they were to give a shout, and did
so, and immediately the walls fell, v. 16. This
was a shout for mastery,- a triumphant shout, the
shout of a king is among them , Numb. 23. 21.
This was a shout of faith; they believed that the
walls of Jericho would fall, and by that faith they
were thrown down. It was a shout of prayer, an
Vol. ii. — E
echo to the sound of the trumpets which proclaimed
the promise that God would remember them; with
one accord, as one man, they cry to heaven for
help, and help comes in. Some allude to this to
show that we must never expect a complete victory
over our own corruptions till the very evening of
our last day, and then we shall shout in triumph
over them, mhen me come to the number and mea¬
sure of our perjections, as Bishop Hall expresses it.
A good heart (says he) groans under the sense of his
infirmities, fain mould be rid of them, and strives
and prays, but mhen all is done, until the end of the
seventh day it cannot be; then judgment shall be
brought forth unto victory. And at the end of
time, when our Lord shall descend from heaven
with a shout, and the sound of a trumpet, Satan’s
kingdom shall be completely ruined, and not till
then, when all opposing rule, principality, and
power, shall be effectu lly and eternally put down.
17. And the city shall be accursed, even
it and all that are therein, to the Lord:
only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all
that are with her in the h xise, because she
hid the messengers that we sent. 1 8. And-
you, in any wise keep yourselves from the
accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves ac¬
cursed, when ye lake off the accursed thing,
and make the camp of Israel a curse, and
trouble it. 19. But all the silver, and gold,
and vessels of brass and iron, are conse¬
crated unto the Lord: they shall come
into the treasury of the Lord. 20. So the
people shouted when the priests blew with
the trumpets : and it came to pass, when
the people heard the sound of the trumpet,
and the people shouted with a great shout,
that the wall fell down flat, so that the peo¬
ple went up into the city, every man straight
before him, and they took the city: 21.
And they utterly destroyed all that was in
the city, both man and woman, young and
old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the
edge of the sword. 22. But Joshua had
said unto the two men that had spied oul
the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and
bring out thence the woman, and all that
she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23. And
the young men that were spies went in, and
brought out Rahab, and her father, and her
mother, and her brethren, and all that she
had ; and they brought out all her kindred,
and left them without the camp of Israel.
24. And they burnt the city with fire, and
all that teas therein : only the silver, and the
gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron,
they put into the treasury of the house of
the Lord. 25. And Joshua saved Rahab
the harlot alive, and her father’s household,
and all that she had ; and she dwelleth in
Israel even unto this day ; because she hid
the messengers which Joshua sent to spy
out Jericho. 26. And Joshua adjured them
at that time, saying, Cursed be the man be¬
fore the Lord that risoth up and buildeth
J4 JOS Fill A, VI.
this city Jericho : he shall lay the foundation
thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest
son shall he set up the gates of it. 27. So
the Lord was with Joshua ; and his fame
was noised throughout all the country.
The people had religiously observed the orders
given them concerning the besieging of Jericho, and
now at length Joshua had told them, v. 16, “ The
Lord hath given you the city, enter and take pos¬
session.” Accordingly, in these verses we have,
I. The rules they were to observe in taking pos¬
session; God gives it them, and therefore may direct
it to what uses and intents, and clog it with what
provisos and limitations he thinks fit. It is given
to them to be devoted to God, as the first, and per¬
haps the worst, of all the cities of Canaan.
1. The city must be burnt, and all the lives in it sa¬
crificed without mercy to the justice of God. All this
they knew was included in those words, v. 17. The
city shall be a cherem, a devoted thing, it and all
therein, to the Lord; no life in it might be ransomed
upon any terms, they must all be surely fiut to death,
Lev. 27. 29. So He appoints, from whom as crea¬
tures they had received their lives, and to whom as
sinners they had forfeited them; and who may dis¬
pute his sentence? Is God unrighteous, who thus
laketh vengeance? God forbid we should entertain
such a thought! There was more of God seen in
the taking of Jericho, than of any other of the cities
of Canaan, and therefore that must be more than
any other devoted to him. And the severe usage of
this city would strike a terror upon all the rest and
melt their hearts yet more before Israel. Only
when this severity is ordered, Rahab and her fami¬
ly are excepted; she shall live and all that are with
her. She had distinguished herself from her neigh¬
bours by the kindness she showed to Israel, and
therefore shall be distinguished from them by the
speedy return of that kindness.
2. All the treasure of it, the monev and plate and
valuable goods, must be consecrated to the service
of the tabernacle, and brought into the stock of dedi¬
cated things: The Jews sav, because the citv was
taken on the sabbath-day. Thus God would be ho¬
noured by the beautifying and enriching of his
tabernacle; thus preparation was made for the
extraordinary expenses of his service: and thus the
Israelites were taught not to set their hearts upon
worldly wealth, nor to aim at heaping up abundance
of it for themselves. God had promised them a land
flowing with milk and honey, not a land abounding
with silver and gold, for he would have them live
comfortably in it, that they might serve him cheer¬
fully, but not covet either to trade with distant
countries, or to hoard for aftertimes. He would
likewise have them reckon themselves enriched in
the enriching of the tabernacle; and to think that
which was laid up in God’s house as truly their ho¬
nour and wealth as if it had been laid up in their
own.
A particular caution is given them to take heed
of meddling with the forbidden spoil ; for what was
devoted to God, if they offered to appropriate it to
their own use, would prove accursed to them ; there¬
fore, v. 18, “ In any wise keefi yourselves from the
accursed thing ; you will find yourselves inclined to
reach towards it, but check yourselves, frighten
yourselves from having anything to do with it.”
He speaks as if he foresaw the sin of Achan, which
we have an account of in the next chapter, when he
gives that reason for the caution, lest ye make the
cam/i of Israel a curse, and trouble it, as it proved
that Achan did.
II. The entrance that was opened to them into
the city by the sudden fall of the walls, or at least
that part of the wall over-against which they then
were when they gave the shout, v. 20, The wall
fell down flat, and, probably, killed abundance of
people; the guards that stood sentinel upon it, or
others that crowded upon it, to look at the Israel¬
ites that were walking around. We read of thou¬
sands killed by the fall of a wall, 1 Kings 20 30.
That which they trusted to for defence, proved their
destruction. The sudden fall of the wall, no doubt,
put the inhabitants into such a consternation, chat
they had no strength nor spirit to make any resist¬
ance, but they became an easy prey to the sword of
Israel, and saw to how little purpose it was to shut
their gates against a people that had the Lord ori the
head of them, Mic. 2. 13. Note, The God of hea¬
ven easily can, and certainly will, break down all
the opposing power of his and his church’s enemies.
Gates of brass and bars of iron are, before him, but
as straw and rotten wood, Isa. 45. 1, 2. Who will
bring me into the strong city? Wilt not thou, O God?
Ps. 60. 9, 10. Thus shall Satan’s kingdom fall, nor
shall any prosper, that hardened themselves agains*-
God.
III. The execution of the orders given concern
this devoted city. All that breathed, were put
the sword; not only the men that were found
arms, but the women and children and old peop
Though they cried for quarter, and begged ever
earnestly for their lives, there was no room for co¬
passion, pity must be forgotten, they utterly c
stroyed all, v. 21. If they had not had a divi
warrant, under the seal of miracles for this exec
tion, it could not have been justified, nor can
justify the like now, when we are sure no stu
warrant can be produced. But being appointed 1
the righteous Judge of heaven and earth to do i
who is not unrighteous in taking vengeance, they ai
to be applauded in doing it, as the faithful mimste
of his justice. Work for God was then bloody
work; and cursed was he that did it deceitfully,
keeping back his sword from blood, Jer. 48. 10. But
the spirit of the gospel is very different, for Christ
came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them,
Luke 9. 56. Christ’s victories were of another na¬
ture. The cattle were put to death with the
owners, as additional sacrifices to the divine justice.
The cattle of the Israelites, when slain at the altar,
were accepted as sacrifices for them, but the cattle
of those Canaanites were required to be slain as sa¬
crifices with them, for their iniquity was not to be
purged with sacrifice and offering: both were for
the glory of God. 2. The city was burnt with flre,
and all that was in it, v. 24. The Israelites, per¬
haps, when they had taken Jericho, a large and
well-built city, hoped they should have that for
their head-quarters; but God will have them yet to
dwell in tents, and therefore fires this nest, lest they
should nestle in it. 3. All the silver and gold, ancl
all those vessels which were capable of being puri¬
fied by fire, were brought into the treasury of the
house of the Lord; not that he needed it, but he
would be honoured by it, as the Lord of hosts, of
their hosts in particular, the God that gave the vic¬
tory, and therefore might demand the spoil; either the
whole, as here, or, as sometimes, a tenth, Heb. 7. 4.
IV. The preservation of Rahab the harlot, or
inn-keeper, who perished not with them that believ¬
ed not, Heb. 11. 31. The public faith was engaged
for her safety, by the two spies, who acted therein
as public persons; and therefore though the hurry
they were in at the taking of the town, no doubt,
was very great, vet Joshua took effectual care for her
preservation. The same persons that she had secur¬
ed, were employed to secure her, v. 22, 23. They
were best able to do it, who knew her and her house,
and they were fittest to do it, that it might appeal
it was for the sake of her kindness to them, that she
JOSHUA, VI 1.
35
■was thus distinguished, and had her life given her
for a prey. All her kindred were saved with her;
like Noah she believed to the saving of her house;
and thus faith in Christ brings salvation to the house.
Acts 16. 31. Some ask, how her house, which is
said to have been u/ion the wall , ch. 2. 15. escaped
falling with the wall; we are sure it did escape, for
she and her relations were safe in it: either though
it joined so near to the wall as to be said to be upon
it, yet it was so far off as not to fall either with the
wail or under it; or rather that part of the wall on
which her house stood, fell not. Now being pre¬
served alive, 1. She was left for some time without
the camp to be purified from the gentile supersti¬
tion, which she was to renounce, and to be prepared
for her admission as a proselyte. 2. She was in due
time incorporated with the church of Israel, and
she and her posterity dwelt in Israel, and her fami¬
ly was remarkable long after. We find her the
wife of Salmon, prince of Judah, mother of Boaz,
and named among the ancestors of our Saviour,
Matt. 1. 5. Having received Israelites in the name
of Israelites, she had an Israelite’s reward. Bishop
Pierson observes, that Joshua’s saving Rahab the
harlot, and admitting her into Israel, was a figure
of Christ’s receiving into his kingdom, and enter¬
taining there, the publicans and the harlots, Matt.
21, 31. Or it may be applied to the conversion of
the Gentiles.
V. Jericho is condemned to a perpetual desola¬
tion, and a curse pronounced upon the man that at
any time hereafter should offer to rebuild it, v. 26.
Joshua adjured them, that is, the elders and people
of Israel, not only by their own consent, obliging
themselves and their posterity never to rebuild this
city, but by the divine appointment; God himself
having forbidden it under the severe penalty here
annexed. 1. God would hereby show the weight
of a divine curse; where it rests there is no contend¬
ing with it nor getting from under it; it brings ruin
without remedy or repair. 2. He would have it to
remain in its ruins a standing monument of his wrath
against the Canaanites, when the measure of their
iniquity was full; and of his mercy to his people,
when the time was come for their settlement in Ca¬
naan. The desolations of their enemies were wit¬
nesses of his favour to them, and would upbraid them
with their ingratitude to that God who had done so
much for them. The situation of the city was very
pleasant, and probably, its nearness to Jordan was an
advantage to it, which would tempt men to build up¬
on the same spot; but they are here told it is at their
eril if they do it. Men build for their posterity,
ut he that builds Jericho, shall have no posterity to
enjoy what he builds; his eldest son shall die when
he begins the work, and if he take not warning by
that stroke to desist, but will go on presumptuously,
the finishing of his work shall be attended with the
funeral of his youngest, and we must suppose all the
rest cut off between. This curse, not being a cur-e
causeless, did come upon that man who long after
rebuilded Jericho, 1 Kings 16. 34. but we are not to
think it made the place ever the worse when it was
built, or brought any hurt to them that inhabited it.
We find Jericho afterward graced with the presence,
not only of those two great prophets Elijah and Eli¬
sha, but of our blessed Saviour himself, Luke 18.
35* 19. 1. Matt. 20. 29. Note, It is a dangerous
thing to attempt the building up of that which God
will have to be destroyed. See Mai. 1. 4.
Lastly, All this magnified Joshua and raised his
reputation, v. 2 7. it made him not only acceptable
to Israel, but formidable to the Canaanites, because
it appeared that God was with him of a truth: the
Word of the Lord was with him, so the Chaldee,
even Christ himself, the same that was with Moses.
Nothing can more raise a man’s reputation, nor
make him appear more truly gteat, than to have
the evidences of God’s presence with him.
CHAP. VII.
More than once we have found the affairs of Israel, then
when they were in the happiest posture, and gave the
most hopeful prospects, perplexed and embarrassed by
sin, and a stop thereby put to the most promising
proceedings. The golden calf, the murmuring at Ka-
desh, and the iniquity of Peor, had broken their mea¬
sures and given them great disturbance; and in this
chapter we have such another instance of the interrup¬
tion given to the progress of theft arms by sin. But ft
being only the sin of one person or family, and soon
expiated, the consequences were not so mischievous as
of those other sins; however it served to let them know
that they were still upon their good behaviour. We have
here, I. The sin of Achan in meddling with the accursed
thing, v. 1. II The defeat of Israel before Ai thereupon,
v. 2.. 5. III. Joshua’s humiliation and prayer on occa¬
sion of that sad disaster, v. 6.. 9. IV. The directions
God gave him for the putting away of the guilt, which
had provoked God thus to contend with them,v. 10. .15.
V. The discovery, trial, conviction, condemnation, and
execution, of the criminal, by which the anger of God
was turned away, v. 16.. 26. And by this story it
appears that, as the law, so Canaan itself, made nothing
perfect, the perfection both of holiness and peace to
God’s Israel is to be expected in the heavenly Canaan
^ only.
1. ~OUT the children of Israel committed
Jl3 a trespass in the accursed thing : for
Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi,
the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took
of the accursed thing : and the anger of the
Lord was kindled against the children of
Israel. 2. And Joshua sent men from Jeri¬
cho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the
east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them,
saying, Go up and view the country. And
the men went up and viewed Ai. 3. And
they returned to Joshua, and said unto him,
Let not all the people go up ; but let about
two or three thousand men go up and smite
Ai ; and make not all the people to labour
thither ; for they are but few. 4. So there,
went up thither of the people about three
thousand men : and they fled before the men
of Ai. 5. And the men of Ai smote of them
about thirty and six men : for they chased
them from before the gate even unto Sheba-
rim, and smote them in the going down ;
wherefore the hearts of the people melted,
and became as water.
The story of this chapter begins with a but. The
Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was noised
through all that country; so the foregoing chaptei
ends, and it left no room to doubt but that he would
go on as he had begun, conquering and to conquer.
He did right, and observed his orders in every
thing. But the children of Israel committed a tres
pass, and so set God against them; and then evei.
Joshua’s name and fame, his wisdom and courage,
could do them no service. If we lose our God, we
lose our friends, who cannot help us unless God be
for us. Now here is,
I. Achan sinning; v. 1. Here is only a general
mention made of the sin, we shall afterward have
a more particular account of it from his own mouth.
The sin is here said to be taking of the accursed
thing, in disobedience to the command, and in defi¬
ance of the threatening, ch. 6. 18. In the sacking
3G JOSHUA, V1J.
of Jericho, orders were given, that they should I
neither spare any lives, nor take any treasure to
themselves; we read not of the breach of the
former prohibition, (there were none to whom they
showed any mercy,) but of the latter. Compas¬
sion was put off, and yielded to the law, but covet¬
ousness was indulged. The love of the world is
that root of bitterness, which of all others is most
hardly rooted up. Yet the history of Achan is a
plain intimation that he of all the thousands of Israel
was the only delinquent in this matter. Had there j
been more in like manner guilty, no doubt we
should have heard of it; and it is strange there
were no more. The temptation was strong, it was
easy to suggest what a p,ty it was that so many
things of value should be burnt, to what purpose is
this waste? In plundering cities, every man reck¬
ons himself entitled to what he can lay his hands on.
It was easy to promise themselves secrecy and im¬
punity; yet by the grace of God such impressions
were made upon the minds of the Israelites by the
ordinances ot God, circumcision and the passover,
which they had lately been partakers of, and by
the providences of God which had been concern¬
ing them, that they stood in awe ot the divine pre¬
cept and judgment, and generously denied them¬
selves in obedience to their God. And yet, though
it was a single person that sinned, the children of
Israel are said to commit the trespass, because one
of their body did it, and he was not as yet separated
from them, nor disowned by them. They did it,
that is, by what Achan did, guilt was derived upon
the whole society of which he was a member.
This should be a warning to us to take heed of sin
ourselves, lest by it many be defiled or disquieted,
Heb. 12. 15. and to take heed of having fellowship
with sinners, and of being in with them, lest we
share in their guilt. Many a careful tradesman has
been broken by a careless partner. And it con¬
cerns us to watch over one another for the prevent¬
ing of sin, because others’ sins may redound to our
damage.
II. The camp of Israel suffering for the same.
The anger o f the Lord was kindled against Israel ;
he saw the offence, though they did not, and takes
a course to make them see it; for, one way or other,
sooner or later, secret sins will be brought to light;
and if men inquire not after them, God will, and
with his inquiries will awaken their’s. Many a
community is under guilt and wrath, and is not
aware of it, till the fire breaks out: here it broke
out quickly.
1. Joshua sends a detachment to seize upon the
next city that was in their way, and that was Ai.
Only three thousand men were sent, advice being
brought him by his spies that the place was incon¬
siderable, and needed no greater force for the re¬
duction of it, v. 2, 3. Now perhaps it was a
culpable assurance, or security rather, that they
sent so small a party on the expedition; it might
also be an indulgence of the people in the love
of ease, for they will not have all the people to
labour thither ; perhaps the people were the less
forward to go upon this expedition, because they
were denied the plunder of Jericho; and these spies
were willing they should be gratified. Whereas
when that town was to be taken, though God by
his own power would throw down the walls, yet
they must all labour thither, and labour there too,
in walking round it. It did not bode well at all,
that God’s Israel began to think much of their
labour, and contrived how to spare their pains. It
is required that we work out our salvation, though
it is God that works in us. It has likewise often
proved of bad consequence to make too light of an
enemy. They are but few, (say the spies,) but as
few as they were, they were too many for them.
It will awaken our care and diligence in our
Christian warfare, to consider that we wrestle with
principalities and powers.
2. The party he sent, in their first attack upon
the town were repulsed with some loss, v. 4, 5,
they fled before the men of .di, finding themselves
unaccountably dispirited, and their enemies to sally
out upon them with more vigour and resolution than
they expected. In their retreat they had about
thirty-six men cut off: no great loss indeed cut of
such a number, but a dreadful surprise to those
who had no reason to expect any other in any
attack than clear, cheap, and certain victory. And
now, as it proves, it is well there were but three
thousand that fell under this disgrace. Had the
body of the army been there, they had been no
more able to keep their ground, now they were
under guilt and wrath, than this small party, and
to them the defeat would have been much more
grievous and dishonourable. However, it was bad
enough as it was, and served, (1.) To humble God’s
Israel, and to teach them always to rejoice with
trembling. Let not him that girdeth on the har¬
ness, boast as he that putteth it off. (2.) To harden
the Canaanites, and to make them the more secure,
notwithstanding the terrors they had been struck
with, that their ruin, when it came, might be the
more dreadful. (3.) To be an evidence of God’s
displeasure against Israel, and a call to them to
purge out the old leaven. And this was principally
intended in their defeat.
3. The retreat of this party in disorder, put the
whole camp of Israel into a fright; the hearts of the
people melted, not so much for the loss as for the
disappointment. Joshua had assured them that the
living God would without fail drive out the Ca¬
naanites from before them, ch. 3. 10. How can
this event be reconciled to that promise? To every
thinking man among them it appeared an indication
of God’s displeasure, and an omen of something
worse, and therefore no marvel it put them into
such a consternation; if God turn to be their enemy
and fight against them, what will become of them?
True Israelites tremble when God is angry.
6. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell
to the earth upon his face before the ark of
the Lord until the even-tide, he and the
elders of Israel, and put dust upon their
heads. 7. And Joshua said, Alas ! O Lord
God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this
people over Jordan, to deliver us into the
hand of the Amorites, to destroy us ?
Would to God we had been content, and
dwelt on the other side Jordan ! 8. O
Lord, what shall T say, when Israel turn-
eth their back before their enemies ! 9.
For the Canaanites, and all the inhabitants
of the land shall hear of it , and shall en¬
viron us around, and cut off our name from
the earth : and what wilt thou do unto thy
great name ?
We have here an account of the deep concern
Joshua was in, upon this sad occasion. He, as a
public person, interested himself more than any
other in this public loss; and is therein an example
to princes and great men, and teaches them to lay
much to heart the calamities that befall their peo¬
ple: he is also a type of Christ, to whom the blood
of his subiects is brecious, Ps. 72. 14.
Observe,
I. How he grieved; he rent his clothes, v. 6. in
37
JOSHUA, Vll.
token of great sorrow for this public disaster, and
especially a dread of God’s displeasure, which was
certainly the cause of it. Had it been but the com¬
mon chance of wrar, (as we are too apt to express
it,) it had not become a General to droop thus
under it: but when God was angry, it was his duty
to honour and feel thus. One of the bravest sol¬
diers that ever was, owned that his flesh trembled
for fear of God, Ps. 119, 120. As ‘one humbling
himself under the mighty hand of God, he fell to
the earth upon his face, not thinking it any dispa¬
ragement to him to lie thus low before the great
God, to whom he directed this token of reverence,
bv keeping his eye toward the ark of the Lord.
The elders of Israel, being interested in the cause,
and influenced by his example, prostrated them¬
selves with him, and, in token of deep humiliation,
put dust upon their heads, not only as mourners,
but as penitents; not doubting but it was for some
sin or other, that God did thus contend with them,
(though they knew not what it was,) they humbled
themselves before God, and thus deprecated the
progress of his wrath. This they continued until
even-tide, to show that it was not the result of a
sudden feeling, but proceeded from a deep convic¬
tion of their misery and danger if God were any
way provoked to depart from them. Joshua did
not fall foul upon his spies for their misinformation
concerning the strength of the enemy, nor upon the
soldiers for their cowardice, though perhaps both
were blame-worthy, but his eye is up to God; for is
there any evil in the camp, and he has not done it?
His eye is upon God as displeased, and that trou¬
bles him.
II. How he prayed, or pleaded rather, humbly
expostulating the case with God; not sullen, as Da¬
vid when the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah,
but much affected; his spirit seemed to be some¬
what ruffled and discomposed, yet not so as to be
put out of frame for prayer; but by giving vent to
his trouble in an humble address to God, he keeps
his temper, and it ends well.
1. Now he wishes they had all taken up with the
lot of the two tribes on the other side Jordan, v. 7.
He thinks it had been better to have stayed there
and been cut short, than come hither to be cut off.
This savours too much of discontent and distrust of
God, and cannot be justified, though the surprise
and disappointment to one deeply concerned for the
public interest may in part excuse it. Those
words, Wherefore hast thou brought us over Jordan
to destroy us? are too like what the murmurers often
said, Exod. 14. 11, 12. — 16. 3. — 17. 3. Numb. 14. 2,
3. but he that searches the heart, knew they came
from another spirit, and therefore was not extreme
to mark what he said amiss. Had Joshua consider¬
ed that this disorder which their affairs were put
into, no doubt, proceeded from something amiss,
which yet might easily be redressed, and all set to
rights again, (as often in his predecessor’s time) he
would not have spoken of it as a thing taken for
granted, that they were delivered into the hands of
the Amorites to be destroyed. God knows what he
does, though we do not; but this we may be sure of,
he never did, nor ever will, do us any wrong.
2. He speaks as one quite at a loss concerning the
meaning of this event, v. 8. “ What shall L say,
what construction can I put upon it, when Lsrael,
thy own people, for whom thou hast lately done
such great things, and to whom thou hast promised
the full possession of this land, when they turn
their backs before their enemies ,” (their necks, so
the word is,) “when they not only flee before
them, but fall before them, and become a prey to
them? What shall we think of the divine power,
.Is the Lord’s arm shortened? Of the divine pro¬
mise Is his word yea and nay? Of what God has
done for us. Shall that be all undone again and
prove in vain?” Note, The methods of Providence
are often intricate and perplexing, and such as the
wisest and best of men know not what to say to; but
they shall know hereafter, John 13. 7.
' 3. He pleads the danger Israel was now in of
being ruined; he gives up all for gone. “ The Ca-
naanites shall environ us round, concluding that,
now our defence being departed, and the scales
turned in their favour, we shall be in their eyes as
contemptible as ever we were formidable, and they
shall cut off our na??ie from the earth,” v. 9.
Thus even good men, when things go against them
a little, are too apt to fear the worst, and make
harder conclusions than there is reason for. But
this comes in here as a plea; “Lord, let not Israel’s
name, which has been so dear to thee and so great
in the world, be cut off. ”
4. He pleads the reproach that would be cast on
God, and that if Israel were ruined, his glory would
suffer by it. They will cut off our name, says he,
yet as if he had corrected himself for insisting upon
that, it is no great matter (thinks he) what comes
of our little name, (the cutting off of that will be a
small loss,) but what wilt thou do for thy great
name? This he looks upon and laments as the
great aggravation to the calamity, he feared it
would reilect on God, his wisdom and power, his
goodness and faithfulness; what would the Egyptians
say? Note, Nothing is more grievous to a gracious
soul than dishonour done to God’s name. This also
he insists upon as a plea for the preventing of his
fears, and a return of God’s favour; it is the only
word in all his address, that has any encouragement
in it, and he concludes with it, leaving it to this
issue. Father, glorify thy name. The name of God
is a great name, above every name; and whatever
happens, we ought to believe that he will, and pray
that he would, woik for his own name, that that
may not be polluted. This should be our concern
more than any thing else, on this we must fix our
eye as the end of all our desires, and from this we
must fetch our encouragement as the foundation of
all our hopes: we cannct urge a better plea than
this, Lord, what wilt thou do for thy great name?
Let God in all be glorified, and then welcome Ids
whole will.
10. And the Loro said unto Joshua,
Get thee up ; wherefore liest thou thus upon
thy face ? 11. Israel hath sinned, and they
have also transgressed my covenant which
I commanded them : for they have even
taken of the accursed thing, and have also
stolen, and dissembled also, and they have
put it even among their own stuff. 12.
Therefore the children of Israel could not
stand before their enemies, hit turned their
backs before their enemies, because they
were accursed : neither will I be with you
any more, except ye destroy the accursed
from among you. 13. Up, sanctify the peo¬
ple, and say, Sanctify yourselves against
to-morrow : for thus saith the Lord God of
Israel, There is an accursed thing in the
midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not
stand before thine enemies, until ye take
away the accursed tiling from among you.
14. In the morning therefore ye shall be
brought according to your tribes : and it
shall be, that the tribe which the LcRn
38
JOSHUA, VII.
taketh shall come according to the families
thereof', and the family which the Lord
shall take shall come by households; and
the households which the Lord shall take
shall come man by man. 15. And it shall
be, that he that is taken with the accursed
thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all
that he hath ; because he hath transgressed
the covenant of the Lord, and because he
hath wrought folly in Israel.
We have here God’s answer to Joshua’s address,
which, we may suppose, came from the oracle over
the ark, before which Joshua had prostrated him¬
self, v. 6. Those that desire to know the will of
Grd, must attend with their desires upon the lively
oracles, and wait at wisdom’s gates for wisdom’s
dictates, Prov. 8. 34. And let those that find them¬
selves under the tokens of God’s displeasure, ne\ er
complain of him, but complain to him, and they
shall receive an answer of peace. The answer
came immediately, while he was yet speaking, Isa.
65. 24. as that of Daniel, ch. 9. 20, & c.
I. God encourages Joshua against his present
despondencies, and the black and melancholy ap¬
prehensions he had of the present posture of Is¬
rael’s affairs, v. 10, “ Get thee up, suffer not thy
spirits to droop and sink thus, wherefore liest thou
thus upon thy face? No doubt, Joshua did well to
humble himseif before God, and mourn as he did,
under the tokens of his displeasure; but now God
tells him, it was enough, he would not have him
continue any longer in that melancholy posture, for
God delights not in the grief of penitents when
they afflict their souls, further than as it qualifies
them for pardon and peace; the days even of that
mourning must be ended. Arise, shake thyself
from the dust, Isa. 52. 2. Joshua continued his
mourning till even-tide, v. 6. so late, that they could
do nothing that night toward the discovery of the
criminal, but were forced to put it off till next
morning. Daniel (ch. 9. 21.) and Ezra (ch. 9. 5,
6.) continued their mourning only till the time of
the evening sacrifice ; that rev ived them both, but
Joshua went past that time, and therefore is thus
roused; “ Get thee up, do not lie all night there.”
Yet we find that Moses fell down before the Lord
forty days and forty nights, to make intercession
for Israel, Dent. 9. 18. Joshua must get up be¬
cause he has other work to do than to lie there; the
accursed thing must be discovered and cast out, and
the sooner the better; Joshua is the man that must
do it, and therefore it is time for him to lay aside
his mourning weeds, and put on his judge’s robes,
and clothe himself with zeal as a cloke; weeping
must not hinder sowing, nor one duty of religion
justle out another. Every thing is beautiful in its
season. Shechaniah perhaps h ul an eye to this in
what he said to Ezra upon a like occasion. See
Ezra 10. 2* *4.
II. He informs him of the true and only cause of
this disaster, and shows him wherefore he contend- !
ed with them, a'. 11, Israel hath sinned. “Think
not that God’s mind is changed, his arm shortened,
or his promise about to fail; no, it is sin, it is sin,
that great mischief-maker, that has stopped the cur¬
rent of divine favours, and has made this breach upon
vou.” The sinner is not named, though the sin
Is described; but it is spoken of as the act of Israel
in general, till they have fastened it upon the par¬
ticular person, and their godly sorrow have so
wrought a clearing of themselves, as the r’s did, 2
Cor. 7. 11. Observe how the sin is here made to
appear exceeding sinful. 1. They have transgress- I
ed my covenant, an express precept with a penalty
annexed to it. It was agreed, that God should have
all the spoil of Jericho, and they should have the spoil
of the rest of the cities cf Canaan, but in robbing Gcd
of his part, they transgressed this covenant. 2.
They have even taken of the devoted thing , in con¬
tempt of the curse which was so solemnly denoun¬
ced against him that should dare to break in upon
God’s property, as if that curse had nothing in it
formidable. 3. They have also stolen; they did it
clandestinely, as if they could conceal it frem the
divine omniscience, and they were ready to say,
The Lord shall not see, or will not miss so small" a
matter out of so great a spoil. Thus thou thought-
est I was altogether such a one as thyself. 4. They
have dissembled also. Probably, when the action
was over, Joshua called all the tribes, and asked
them, whether they had faithfully disposed of the
spoil according to the divine command, and char¬
ged them, if they knew of any transgression, they
should discover it; but Achan joined with the rest in
a general protestation of innocency, and kept his
countenance, like the adulterous woman that eats
and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no
wickedness. Nay, 5. They have put the accursed
thing among their own goods, as if they had as good
a title to that as to any thing they have; never ex¬
pecting to be called to an account, nor designing to
make restitution. All this Joshua, though a wise and
vigilant ruler, knew nothing of, till God told him,
who knows all the secret wickedness that is in the
world, which men know nothing of. God could at
this time have told him who the person was that
had done this thing, but does not. (1.) To exercise
the zeal of Joshua and Israel, in searching out the
criminal. (2.) To give the sinner himself space to
repent and make confession. Joshua, no dcubt,
proclaimed immediately throughout the camp, tin t
there was such a transgression committed, up' n
which, if Achan had surrendered himself, and peni¬
tently owned his guilt, and prevented the scrutiny,
who knows but he might have had the benefit of
that law which accepted of a trespass-offering, with
restitution, from those that had sinned through ig¬
norance in the holy things of the law? Lev. 5. 15,
16. But Achan never discovering himself till the
lot discovered him, evinced the hardness cf his
heart, and therefore he found no mercy.
III. He awakens him to inquire further into it,
by telling him, 1. That this was the only ground
for the controversy God had with them; this, and
nothing else; so that when this accursed thing was
put away, he needed not fear, all would be well, the
stream of their successes, when this one obstruction
was removed, would run as strong as ever. 2. That
if this accursed thing were not destroyed, they
could not expect the return of God’s gracious pre¬
sence; in plain terms, neither will 1 be with you am/
more as I have been, except ye destroy the accursed,
that is, the accursed person, who is made so by the
accursed thing. That which is accursed, will be
destroyed; and they whom God has intrusted to
bear the sword, bear it in vain, if they make it not
a terror to that wickedness which brings these
judgments of God on a land. By personal repent¬
ance and reformation, we destroy the accursed thing
in our own hearts, and unless we do that, we must
never expect the favour of the blessed God. Let
all men know that it is nothing but sin that separates
between them and God, and if that be not sincerely
repented of and forsaken, it will separate eternally.
IV. He directs him in what method to make this
inquiry and prosecution. 1. He must sanctify the
people, now over-night, that is, as it is explained*
he must command them to sanctify themselves, v.
13. And wh it can either magistrates or ministers
1 do more toward sanctification? They must put
39
JOSHUA, VII.
themselves into a suitable frame to appear before
God, and submit to the divine scrutiny; must ex¬
amine themselves, now that God was coming to
examine them; must prepare to meet their God.
They were called to sanctify themselves, when they
were to receive the divine law, Exod. 19. and now
also when they were to come under the divine judg¬
ment; for in both God is to be attended with the ut¬
most reverence. There is an accursed thing in the
midst of thee, and therefore sanctify yourselves, that
is, “Let all that are innocent, be able to clear
themselves, and be the more careful to cleanse
themselves: the sins of others may be improved by
us, as furtherances of our sanctification, as the scan¬
dal of the incestuous Corinthian occasioned a bless¬
ed reformation in that church, 2 Cor. 7. 11. 2. He
must bring them all under the scrutiny of the lot, x».
14. the tribe which the guilty person was of, should
first be discovered by lot, then the family, then
the household, and last of all the person. The
conviction came upon him thus gradually, that he
might have some space given him to come in and
surrender himself; for God is not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repen't-
ance. Observe, The Lord is said to take the tribe,
and family, and household, on which the lot fell;
because the disposal of the lot is of the Lord, and
however casual it seems, is under the direction of
infinite wisdom and justice; and to show, that when
the sin of sinners finds them out, God is to be ac¬
knowledged in it; it is he that seizes them, and the
arrests are in his name. God hath found out the
iniquity of thy servants, Gen. 44. 16. It is also in¬
timated with what a certain and unerring judgment
the righteous God does and will distinguish between
the innocent and the guilty, so that though fora
time they seem involved in the same condemnation,
as the whole tribe did, when it was first taken by
the lot, yet he who has his fan in his hand, will ef¬
fectually provide for the taking out of the precious
from the vile-, so that though the righteous be of the
same tribe, and family, and household, with the
wicked, yet they shall never be treated as the wick¬
ed, Gen.’ 18. 25. 3. When the criminal was found
out, he must be put to death without mercy, (Heb.
10. 28.) and with all the expressions of a holy de¬
testation, v. 15. He and all that he has, must be
burnt with fire, that there might be no remainders
of the accursed thing among them; and the reason
given for this severe sentence, is, because the cri¬
minal has, (1.) Given a great affront to God, he
has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, who is
jealous particularly for the honour of the holy co¬
venant. (2.) He has done a great injury to the
church of God, he has wrought folly in Israel, has
shamed that nation which is looked upon by all its
neighbours to be a wise and an understanding
people; has infected that nation which is sanctified
to God, and troubled that nation of which He is the
Protector. These being crimes so heinous in their
nature, and of such pernicious consequence and ex¬
ample, the execution, which otherwise would have
come under the imputation of cruelty, is to be ap¬
plauded as a piece of necessary justice. It was Sa¬
crilege, it was invading God’s rights, alienating his
property, and converting to a private use that which
was devoted to his glory, and appropriated to the
service of his sanctuary — this was the crime to be
thus severely punished, for warning to all people in
all ages to take heed how they rob God.
16. So Joshua rose up early in the morn¬
ing, and brought [srael by their tribes ; and
the tribe of Judah was taken : 17. And he
brought the family of Judah; and he took
the family of the Zarhites : and he brought
the family of the Zarhites man by man ;
and Zabdi was taken : 1 8. And he brought
his household man by man ; and Achan,
the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son
ol Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
19. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son
give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of
Israel, and make confession unto him ; and
: tell me now what thou hast done ; hide it not
from me. 20. And Achan answered Joshua
and said, Indeed I have sinned against the
Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus
have I done: 21. When I saw among the
spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and
two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge
of gold of fifty shekels weight, then 1 covet¬
ed them, and took them ; and, behold, thev
are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent,
and the silver under it. 22. So Joshua sent
messengers, and they ran unto the tent ;
and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the
silver under it. 23. And they took them
out of the midst of the tent, anil brought
them unto Joshua, and unto all the children
of Israel, and laid them out before the
Lord. 24. And Joshua, and all Israel
with him, took Achan, the son of Zerah,
and the silver, and the garment, and the
wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daugh¬
ters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his
sheep, and his tent, and all that he had :
and they brought them unto the valley of
Achor. 25. And Joshua said, Why hast
thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble
thee this day. And all Israel stoned him
with stones, and burned them with fire after
they had stoned them with stones. 26. And
they raised over him a great heap of stones
unto this day. So the Lord turned from
the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the
name of that place was called, The valley
of Achor, unto this day.
We have in these verses,
I. The discovery of Achan by the lot, which
proved a perfect lot, though it proceeded gradual¬
ly. Though we may suppose that Joshua slept
the better, and with more ease and satisfaction,
when he knew the worst of the disease of that body,
which, under God, he was the head of, and which
was put into a certain method of cure, yet he rose
up early in the morning, v. 16. so much was his
heart upon it, to put away the accursed thing. We
have found Joshua upon other occasions an early
riser, here, it shows his zeal and vehement desire
to see Israel restored to the divine favour. In the
scrutiny observe, 1. That the guilty tribe was that
of Judah, which was, and was to be, of all the
tribes the most honourable and illustrious; this was
an allay to their dignity, and might serve as a check
to their pride: many there were, who were its glo¬
ries, but here was one that was its reproach. Let
not the best families think it strange, if there be
those found in them, and descending from them, that
prove their grief and shame. Judah was to have
40
JOSHUA, VII.
the first and largest lot in Canaan, the more inex¬
cusable is one of that tribe, if, not content to wait for
his own share, he break in upon God’s property.
The Jews’ tradition is, that when the tribe of Ju¬
dah was taken, the valiant men of that tribe drew
their swords, and professed they would not sheathe
them again till they saw the criminal punished, and
themselves cleared who knew their own innocency.
2. That the guilty person was at length fastened
upon, and the language of the lot was, Thou art the
man, v. 18. It was strange that Achan, being con¬
scious to himself of guilt, when he saw the lot come
nearer and nearer to him, had not either the wit to
make an escape, or the grace to make a confession;
but his heart was hardened through the deceitful¬
ness of sin, and it proved to be to his own destruc¬
tion. We may well imagine how his countenance
changed, and what horror and confusion seized him
when he was singled out as the delinquent, when
the eyes of all Israel were fastened upon him,
and every one was re idy to say, Have we found
thee, 0 our enemy? See here, (1.) The folly of
those that promise themselves secrecy in sin; the
righteous God has many ways of bringing to light
the hidden works of darkness, and so bringing to
shame and ruin those that continue their fellowship
with those unfruitful works. A bird of the air,
when God pleases, shall carry the voice, Eccl. 10.
20. See Ps. 94. 7, i Vc. (2.) How much it is
our concern, when God is contending with us,
to find out what the cause of. action is, what the
particular sin is, that, like Achan, troubles our
c mp. We must thus examine ourselves and care¬
fully review the records of conscience, that we may
find out the accursed thing, and pray earnestly
with holy Job, Lord, show me wherefore thou con-
t ndest with me. Disco , er the traitor, and he shall
r.o longer be harboured.
II. His arraignment and examination, v. 19.
Joshua sits judge, and though abundantly satisfied
of his guilt hv the determination of the lot, yet urges
him to make a penitent confession, that his soul
might be saved bv it in the other world, though he
could not give him any encouragement to hope that
he shou’d save his life by it. Observe, 1. How he
accosts him, with the vreatest mildness and tender¬
ness that could be, like a true disciple of Moses.
He might justly have called him “thief,” and
“rebel,” “Raca,”and “thou fool,” but he calls
him “ son;” he might have adjured him to confess,
as the High Priest did our blessed Saviour, or
threatened him with the torture to extort a con¬
fession, but for love’s sake he rather beseeches him,
I pray thee, make conf ssion. This is an example
to all, not to insult over those that are in misery,
though thev have brought themselves into it by
their own wickedness, but to treat even offenders
with the spirit of meekness, not knowing what we
oursch es should have been and done, if God had
put us into the hand of our own counsels. It is like¬
wise an example to magistrates, in executing justice,
to govern their own passions with a strict and pru¬
dent hand, and never suffer themselves to be trans¬
ported bv them into any indecencies of behaviour
or language, no, not towards those that have given
the greatest provocations. The wrath of man work-
eth not the righteousness of God. Let them re¬
member the judgment is God’s, who is Lord of his
anger. This is the likeliest method of bringing of¬
fenders to repentance. 2. What he wishes him to do;
to confess the fact, to confess it to God, the party
offended bv the crime; Joshua was to him in God’s
stead, so that in confessing to him, he confessed to
God. Hereby he would satisfy Joshua and the
congregation concerning that which was laid .to his
charge; his confession would also be an e\ idence of
his repentance, and a warning to others to take
heed of sinning after the similitude of his trans
gression: but that which Joshua aims at herein, is,
that God might be honoured by it as the Lord,
the God of infinite knowledge and power, from
whom no secrets are hid; and as the God of Israel,
who as he does particularly resent affronts given
to his Israel, so he does the affronts given him by
Israel. Note, In confessing sin, as we take shame
to ourselves, so we give glory to God, as a righteous
God, owning him justly displeased with us, and as a
good God who will not improve our confessions as
evidences against us, but is faithful and just to for¬
give, when we are brought to own that he would be
faithful and just if he should punish. By sin we have
injured God in his honour; Christ by h:s death has
made satisfaction for the injury: but it is required,
that we by repentance show our good-will to his
honour, and, as far as in us lies, give glory to him.
Bishop Patrick quotes the Samaritan chronicle,
making Joshua to say here to Achan, Lift up thine
eyes to the King of heaven and earth, and acknow¬
ledge that nothing can be hid from him who knoweth
the greatest secrets.
III. His confession, which, now at last, when he
saw it was to no purpose to conceal his crime, was
free and ingenuous enough, v. 20, 21. Here is,
1. A penitent acknowledgment of the fault.
“Indeed I have sinned, what I am charged with is
too true to be denied, and too bad to be excused. I
own it, I lament it; the Lord is righteous in bring¬
ing it to light, for indeed I have sinned.” This is
the language of a penitent that is sick of his sin,
and whose conscience is loaded with it. “I have
nothing to accuse any one else of, but a great deal
to say against myself; it is with me that the ac¬
cursed thing is found, I am the man who have
perverted that which was right, and it profited
me not.” And that wherewith he aggravates the
sin, is, that it was committed against the Lord
God of Israel. He was himself an Israelite, a
sharer with the rest of that exalted nation in their
privileges, so that, in offending the God of Israel,
he offended his own God, which laid him under
the guilt of the basest treachery and ingratitude
imaginable.
2. A particular narrative of the fact, Thus and
thus have I done. God had told Joshua in general,
that a part of the devoted things was alienated, but
leaves it to him to draw from Achan an account of
the particulars; for, one way or other, God will
make sinners’ own tongues to fall upon themselves,
(Ps. 64. 8.) if ever he bring them to repentance,
they will be their own accusers, and their awaken¬
ed consciences will be instead of a thousand wit¬
nesses. Note, It becomes penitents, in’ the confes¬
sion of their sin to God, to be very particular; not
only, “ I have sinned,” but, “ In this and that in¬
stance I have sinned ;” reflecting with regret upon
all the steps that led to the sin, and all the circum¬
stances that aggravated it and made it exceeding
sinful; thus and thus have I done. He confesses,
1.) Tathe things taken. In plundering a house in
ericho he found a goodly Babylonish garment; the
word signifies a robe, such as princes wore when
they appeared in state, probably it belonged to the
king of Jericho; it was far-fetched, if fetched, as
we translate it, from Babylon. A garment of di¬
vers colours, so some render it; whatever it was,
in his eyes it made a glorious show; “ A thousand
pities” (thinks Achan) “that it should be burnt,
then it will do nobody any good, if I take it for my¬
self, it will serve me many a year for my best gar¬
ment.” Under these pretences, he makes hold
with this first, and thinks it no harm to save it from
the fire; but his hand being thus in, he proceeds to
take a bag of money, two hundred shekels, that is,
one hundred ounces of silver, and a wedge of gda
JOSHUA, VII. 41
which weighed fifty shekels, that is, twenty-five
ounces. He could not plead that, in taking these,
he saved them from the fire, (for the silver and
gold were to be laid up in the treasury, J but they
that make a slight excuse to serve in daring to
commit one sin, will have their hearts so hardened
by that, that they will venture upon the next with¬
out such an excuse, for the way of sin is down-hill.
See what a poor prize it was for which Achan ran
thisdesperate hazard, and what an unspeakable loser
he was by the bargain. See Matt. 16. 26. (2.) He
confesses the manner of taking them. [1.] The sin
began in the eye. He saw these fine things, as Eve
saw the forbidden fruit, and was strangely charmed
with the sight. See what comes of suffering the
heart to walk after the eyes, and what need we
have to make this covenant with our eyes, that if
they wander, they shall be sure to weep for it.
Look not thou ufion the wine that is red, upon the
woman that is fair; close the right eye that thus of¬
fends thee, to prevent the necessity of plucking it
out, and casting it from thee, Matt. 5. 28, 29. [2.]
It proceeded out of the heart. He OAvns, I coveted
them. Thus lust conceived and brought forth this
sin. They that would be kept from sinful actions,
must mortify and check in themselves sinful de¬
sires, particularly the desire of worldly wealth,
which we more particularly call covetousness. O
what a world of evil is the love of money the root
of ! Had Achan looked upon these things with an
eye of faith, he would have seen them accursed
things, and would have dreaded them, but looking
upon them with an eye of sense only, he saw them
goodly things, and coveted them. It was not the
looking, but the lusting, that ruined him. [3.]
When he had committed it, he was very industri¬
ous to conceal it. Having taken of the forbidden
treasures, fearing lest any search should be made
fir prohibited goods, he hid them in the earth, as
one that resolved to keep what he had gotten, and
never to make restitution. Thus does Achan con¬
fess the whole matter, that God might be justified
in the sentence passed upon him. See the deceit¬
fulness of sin; that which is pleasing in the com¬
mission, is bitter in the reflection, at the last it bites
like a serpent. Particularly, see what comes of ill-
gotten goods, and how they will be cheated that
rob God, Job. 20. 15, He hath swallowed down
riches, and he shall vomit them up again.
IV. His conviction. God had convicted him by
the lot, he had convicted himself by his own con¬
fession; but that no room might be left for the most
discontented Israelite to object against the process,
Joshua has him further convicted by the searching
of his tent, in which the goods were found which
he confessed to. Particular notice is taken of the
haste which the messengers made, that were sent
to search, they ran to the tent, v. 22. Not only to
show their readiness to obey Joshua’s orders, but
to show how uneasy they were till the camp was
cleared of the accursed thing, that they might re¬
gain the divine favour. They that feel themselves
under wrath, find themselves concerned not to de¬
fer the putting away of sin. Delays are dangerous,
and it is no time to trifle. When the stolen goods
were brought, they were laid out before the Lord,
v. 23. that all Israel might see how plain the evi¬
dence was against Achan, and might adore the
strictness of God’s judgments in punishing so se¬
verely the stealing of such small things, and yet the
justice of his judgments in maintaining his right to
devoted things, and might be afraid of ever offend¬
ing in the like kind. In laying them out before the
Lord, they acknowledged his title to them, and
waited to receive his directions concerning them.
Note, Those that think to put a cheat upon God,
do but deceive themselves; what is taken from
Vor. it. — F
him, he will recover, Hos. 2. 9. and he will be a
loser by no man at last.
V. His condemnation. Joshua passes sentenc**
upon him, v. 25, Why hast thou troubled us?
There is the ground of the sentence, O, how much
hast thou troubled us? So some read it. He refers
to what was said when the warning was given not
to meddle with the accursed thing, ch. 6. 18, lest ye
make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
Note, Sin is a very troublesome thing, not only to a
sinner himself, but to all about him. He that is
greedy of gain, as Achan was, troubles his own
house, Prov. 15. 27. and all the communities he be¬
longs to. Now (says Joshua) God shall trouble
thee. See why Achan was so severely dealt with,
not only because he had robbed God, but because
he had troubled Israel; over his head he had (as
it were) this accusation written', Achan, the trou-
bler of Israel, asAhab, livings 18. 18. This there¬
fore is his dorm, God shall trouble thee. Note,
The righteous God will certainly recompense tribu¬
lation to them that trouble his people, 2 Thess. 1.
6. Those that are troublesome, shall be troubled.
Some of the Jewish doctors, from that word, which
determines the troubling of him to this day, infer,
that therefore he should not be troubled in the
world to come; the flesh was destroyed, that the
spirit might be saved, and if so, the dispensation
was really less severe than it seemed. In the de¬
scription, both of his sin and of his punishment, by
the trouble that was in both, there is a plain allu¬
sion to his name Achan, or, as he is called, 1 Chron.
2. 7, Achar, which signifies trouble. He did too
much answer his name.
VI. His execution. No repriev e could be ob¬
tained, a gangrened member must be cut off im¬
mediately. When he is proved to be an anathema,
and the troubler of the camp, we may suppose all
the people cry out aga'nst him, Away with him,
away with him! Stone him, stone him! Here is,
1. The place of execution: they brought him out
of the camp, in token of their putting far from them
that wicked person, 1 Cor. 5. 13. When cur Lord
Jesus was made a curse for us, that by his trouble
we might have peace, he suffered as an accursed
thing without the gate, bearing our reproach, Heb.
13. 12, 13. The execution was at a distance, that
the camp which was disturbed by Achan’s sin,
might net be defiled by his death.
2. The persons employed in his execution; it was
the act of all Israel, v. 24, 25. They were all spec¬
tators of it, that they might see and fear. Public
executions are public examples. Nay, they were
all consenting to his death, and as rm nyas could,
were active in it, in token of the universal detesta¬
tion in which they held his sacrilegious attempt,
and their dread of God’s displeasure against them.
3. The partakers with him in the punishment;
for he perished not alone in his iniquity, ch. 22. 20.
(1.) The stolen goods were destroyed with him, the
garment burnt, as it should have been with the rest
of the combustible things in Jericho, and the silver
and gold defaced, melted, lost, and buried, in the
ashes of the rest of his goods, under the heap of
stones, so as never to be put to any other use. (2. )
All his other goods were destroyed likewise, not
only his tent, and the furniture of that, but his
oxen, asses, and sheep; to show, that goods gotten
unjustly, especially if they be gotten by sacrilege,
will not only turn to no account, but will blast and
waste the rest of the possessions to which they are
added. The eagle in the fable, that stole flesh
from the altar, brought a coal of fire with it, which
burnt her nest, Hab. 2. 9, 10. Zech. 5. 3, 4. They
lose their own, that grasp at more than their own.
(3.) His sons and daughters were put to death with
hiu.- Some indeed think that they were brought
42
JOSHUA, VIII.
out, (z>. 24.) only to be the spectators of their fa¬
ther’s punishment, but most conclude that they
died with him, and that they must be meant, v.
25. where it is said, they burned them with fire
after they had stoned them with stones. God had
expressly provided that magistrates should not put
'he children to death for the father’s sins; but he
did not intend to bind himself by that law, and in
this case he had expressly ordered, v. 15. that the
criminal and all that he had, should be burnt. Per¬
haps his sons and daughters were aiders and abettors
in the villany, had helped to carry off the accursed
things. It is very probable that they assisted in
the concealment, and that he could not hide them
in the midst of his tent, but they must know and
keep his counsel, and so they became accessaries ex
fiost facto — after the fact; and if they were ever so
little partakers in the crime, it was so heinous,
that they were justly sharers in the punishment.
However, God was hereby glorified, and the judg¬
ment executed was thus made the more tremen¬
dous.
4. The punishment itself that was inflicted on
him; he was stoned, some think, as a sabbath-
breaker, supposing that the sacrilege was commit¬
ted on the sabbath-day; and then his dead body
was burnt as an accursed thing, of which there
should be no remainder left. The concurrence of
all the people in this execution, teaches us how
much it is the interest of a nation, that all in it
should contribute what they can, in their places, to
the suppression of vice and profaneness, and the
reformation of manners; sin is a reproach to any
people, and therefore every Israelite indeed will
have a stone to throw at it.
5. The pacifying of God’s wrath hereby, v. 26,
The Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger.
The putting away of sin by true repentance and re¬
formation, as it is the only way, so it is a sure and
most effectual way, to recover the divine favour.
Take away the cause, and the effect will cease.
VII. The record of his conviction and execution;
care was taken to preserve the remembrance of it,
for warning and instruction to posterity: 1. A heap
of stones was raised on the place where Achan
was executed, every one perhaps of the congre¬
gation throwing a stone at the heap, in token
of his detestation of the crime. 2. A new name
was given to the place; it was called, the Valley of
Achor, or Trouble. This was a perpetual brand
of infamy upon Achan’s name, and a perpetual
warning to all people not to invade God’s property.
By this severity against Achan, the honour of Josh¬
ua’s government, now in the infancy of it, was
maintained, and Israel, at their entrance upon the
promised Canaan, were minded to observe, at their
peril, the provisos and limitations of the grant by
which they held it. The Valley of Achor is said
to be given for a door of hope, because when we
ut away the accursed thing, then there begins to
e hope in Israel, Hos. 2 15. Ezra 10. 2.
CHAP. VIII.
The embarrassment which Achan’s sin gave to the affairs
of Israel being over, we have them here in a very good
posture again, the affairs both of war and religion. Here
is, I. The glorious progress of their arms in the taking
of Ai, before which they had lately suffered disgrace.
1. God encourages Joshua to attack it, with the assu¬
rance of success, and directs him what method to take,
v. 1, 2. 2. Joshua gives orders accordingly to the men
of war, v. 3. .8. 3. The stratagem is managed as it was
projected, and succeeds as it was desired, v. 9. .22. 4.
Joshua becomes master of this city, puts all to the sword,
burns it, hangs the king, but. gives the plunder to the
soldiers, v. 23. .29. II. The great solemnity of writing
and reading the law before a general assembly of all Is¬
rael, drawn up for that purpose upon the tw mountains
of Gerizim and Ebal, according to an order which Moses
had received from the Lord, and delivered to them, v.
30. .35. Thus did they take their work before them, and
make the business of their religion to keep pace with
their secular business.
1. 4 ND the Lord said unto Joshua,
Fear not, neither be thou dismayed:
take all the people of war with thee, and
arise, go up to Ai : see, I have given into
thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and
his city, and his land. 2. And thou shalt
do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto
Jericho and her king : only the spoil there¬
of, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for
a prey unto yourselves : lay thee an am¬
bush for the city behind it.
Israel were very happy in having such a com
mander as Joshua, but Joshua was more happy in
having such a director as Grd himself; when any
difficulty occurred, he need not to call a council of
war, who had God so nigh unto him, not only to
answer, but even to prevent his inquiries. It should
seem, Joshua was now at a stand, had scarcely re¬
covered from the discomposure he was put into by
the trouble Achan gave them, and could not think,
without fear and trembling, of pushing forward,
lest there should be in the camp another Achan;
then God spake to him, either by vision, as before,
ch. 5. as a man of war with his sword drawn, or by
the breastplate of judgment. Note, When we have
faithfully put away sin, that accursed thing, which
separates between us and God, then, and not till
then, we may expect to hear from God to our com¬
fort; and God’s directing us how to go on in our
Christian work and warfare, is a good evidence of
his being reconciled to us. Obser' e here,
I. The encouragement God gives to Joshua to
proceed; Fear not, neither be thou dismayed, v. 1.
This intimates that the sin of Achan, and the con¬
sequence of it, had been a very great discourage¬
ment to Joshua, and made his heart almost ready
to fail. Corruptions within the church we: ken the
hands, and damp the spirits of her guides and help¬
ers, more than oppositions from without; treacher¬
ous Israelites are to be dreaded more than mali¬
cious Canaanites. But God bids Joshua not to be
dismayed; the same power that keeps Israel from
being ruined by their enemies, shall keep them
from ruining themselves. To animate him, 1. He
assures him of success against Ai, tells him it is all
his own; but he must take it as God’s gift, I have
given it into thy hands, which secured him both
title and possession, and obliged him to give God
the glory of both, Ps. 44. 3. 2. He allows the peo¬
ple to take the spoil to themselves. Here the spoil
was not consecrated to God as that of Jericho, and
therefore there was no danger of the people’s com¬
mitting such a trespass as they had committed
there. Observe, How Achan, who catched at for¬
bidden spoil, lost that, and life, and all; but the
rest of the people, who had conscientiously refrain¬
ed from the accursed thing, were quickly recom¬
pensed for their obedience with the spoil of Ai; the
way to have the comfort of what God allows us, is,
to forbear what he forbids us. No man shall lose by
his self-denial; let God have hisdues first, and then
all will be clean to us and sure, 1 Kings 17. 13.
God did not bring them to these goodly cities, and
houses filled with all good things, to tantalize them
with the sight of that which they might not touch;
but, having received the first-fruits from Jericho, the
spoil of Ai, and of all the cities which from hence
forward came into their hands, they might take fer
a prey to themselves.
43
JOSHUA, Vlll.
II. The direction he gives him in attacking Ai.
It must not be such a work of time as the taking of
Jericho was, that would have prolonged the war too
much; they that had patiently waited seven days
for Jericho, shall have Ai given them in one day.
Nor was it, as that, to be taken by miracle, and pure¬
ly by the act of God, but now their own conduct and
courage must be exercised; having seen God work
for them, they must now bestir themselves. God
directs him, 1. To take all the people, that they
might all be spectators of the action, and sharers in
the spoil. Hereby God gave him a tacit rebuke for
sending so small a detachment against Ai, in the
former attempt upon it, eh. 7. 4. 2. To lay an am¬
bush behind the city; this was a method which
Joshua would not have thought of at this time, if
God had not directed him to it; and though now
we are not to expect direction, as here, by visions,
voices, or oracles, yet whenever those who are in¬
structed with public counsels, take prudent mea¬
sures for the public good, it must be acknowledged
that God puts it into their hearts; he that teaches
the husbandman discretion, no doubt, teaches the
statesman and general.
3. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war,
to go up against Ai : and Joshua chose out
thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and
sent them away by night. 4. And he com¬
manded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in
wait against the city, even behind the city: go
not very far from the city, but be ye all
ready: 5. And I, and all the people that
are with me, will approach unto the city :
and it shall come to pass, when they come
out against us, as at the first, that we will
flee before them, 6. (For they will come
out after us,) till we have drawn them from
the city : for they will say. They flee be¬
fore us, as at the first : therefore we will
flee before them. 7. Then ye shall rise up
from the ambush, and seize upon the city :
for the Lord your God will deliver it into
your hand. 8. And it shall be, when ye
have taken the city, that ye shall set the
city on fire : according to the commandment
of the Lord shall ye do. See, I have com¬
manded you. 9. Joshua therefore sent them
forth : and they went to lie in ambush, and
abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west
side of Ai : but Joshua lodged that night
among the people. 10. And Joshua rose
up early in the morning, and numbered the
people, and went up, he and the elders of
Israel, before the people to Ai. 11. And all
the people, even the people of war that ivere
with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came
before the city, and pitched on the north
side of Ai : now there was a valley between
them and Ai. 12. And he took about five
thousand men, and set them to lie in am¬
bush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west
side of the city. 13. And when they had
set the people, even all the host that was on
the north of the city, and their liers in wait
on the west of the city, Joshua went that
night into the midst of the valley. 14.
And it came to pass, when the king of Ai
saw it, that they hasted and rose up early,
and the men of the city went out against
Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a
time appointed, before the plain ; but he
wist not that there were liers in ambush
against him behind the city. 15. And
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were
beaten before them, and fled by the way
of the wilderness. 16. And all the people
that ivere in Ai were called together to pur¬
sue after them : and they pursued after
Joshua, and were drawn away from the
city. 17. And there was not a man left in
Ai or Beth-el that went not out after Israel :
and they left the city open, and pursued af¬
ter Israel. 18. And the Lord said unto
Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy
hand toward Ai ; for I will give it into thine
hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear
that he had in his hand toward the city. 19.
And the ambush arose quickly out of their
place, and they ran as soon as he had
stretched out his hand ; and they entered
into the city, and took it, and hasted, and
set the city on fire. 20. And when the
men of Ai looked behind them, they saw,
and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended
up to heaven, and they had no power to
flee this way or that way : and the people
that fled to the wilderness turned back upon
the pursuers. 21. And when Joshua and
all Israel saw that the ambush had taken
the city, and that the smoke of the city as¬
cended, then they turned again, and slew
the men of Ai. 22. And the other issued
out of the city against them ; so they were
in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and
some on that side : and they smote them,
so that they let none of them remain or es¬
cape.
We have here an account of the taking of Ai by
stratagem. The stratagem here used, we are sure,
was lawful and good: God himself appointed it, and
we have no reason to think, but that the like is lawful
and good in other wars. Here was no league brok¬
en, no oath or promise violated, nor any thing like
it; it was not by the pretence of a parley, or treaty
of peace, that the advantage was gained, no, these
are sacred things, and not to be jested with, nor
used to serve a turn; truth, when once plighted,
becomes a debt even to the enemy. But in this
stratagem here was no untruth told; nothing was
concealed but their own counsels, which no enemy
ever pretended a right to be entrusted with; nothing
was dissembled, nothing counterfeited but a re¬
treat, which was no natural or necessary indication
at all of their inability to maintain their onset, cr of
any design not to renew it; the enemy ought to
have been upon their guard, and to have kept within
the defence of their own walls; common prudence,
had they been governed by it, would have directed
JOSHUA, VIII.
them not to venture on the pursuit of an army
which they saw was so far superior to them in
numbers, and leave their city unguarded; but ( Si
populus vult deci/ii, dicipiatur — If the people will
be deceived, let them. ) if the Canaanites were so
easily imposed upon, and, in pursuit of God’s Is¬
rael, will break through all the laws of policy and
good management, the Israelites are not at all to be
blamed for taking advantage of their fury and
.houghtlessness: nor is it any way inconsistent with
the character God is pleased to give of them, that
thev are children that will not lie.
Now in the account here given of this matter,
I. There is some difficulty in adjusting the num¬
bers that were employed to effect it. Mention is
made, v. ", of thirty thousand, that were chosen
and sent away by night, to whom the charge was
given to surprise the city as soon as ever they per¬
ceived it was evacuated, v. 4, 7, 8. And yet after¬
ward, v. 12. it is said, Joshua took five thousand
men, and set them to lie in ambush behind the city,
and that ambush entered the city, and set it on fire,
v. 19. Now, 1. Some think there were two par¬
ties sent out to lie in ambush, thirty thousand first,
and afterward five thousand to guard the roads, and
to intercept those of the city that might think to
save themselves by flight, or to strengthen those
that were first sent out; and that Joshua made his
open attack upon the city, with all the thousands
of Israel. So the learned Bishop Patrick, insisting
upon God’s command, v. 1. to take all the people of
war with him. But, 2. Others think that all the
people were taken only to encamp before the city,
and that out of them Joshua chose out thirtv thcu-
sand men to be employed in the action, out of which
he sent five thousand to lie in ambush, which were
as many as could be supposed to march incognito
— without being discovered: (more would have been
seen, and thus the design woidd have been broken;)
and that then with the other twenty-five thousand
he made the open attack, as Masius thinks, or with
the thirty thousand, which, as Calvin thinks, he
kept entire for that purpose, having, beside them,
sent out five thousand for an ambuscade. And those
five thousand (they think) must be meant by them,
v. 3. which he sent away by night, with orders to
lie in wait behind the city, though the particular
number is not specified till v. 12. If we may admit
such a seeming disturbance in the order of the. nar¬
rative, (of which, perhaps, similar instances might
be cited from the other scripture-histories,) it seems
most probable that there was but one ambushment,
which consisted only of five thousand, enough for
such a purpose.
II. Yet the principal parts of the story are plain
enough, that a detachment being secretly marched
behind the citv, on the other side to that on which
the main body of the army lay, (the situation of
the country, it is probable, favouring their con¬
cealment,) Joshua, and the forces with him, faced
the city; the garrison made a vigorous sally out up¬
on them, whereupon they withdrew, gave ground
and retreated in some seeming disorder toward the
wilderness; which being perceived by the men of
Ai, they drew out all the force they had to pursue
them. This gave a fair opportunity for them that
lay in ambush to make themselves masters of the
citv, whereof when they had given notice, by a
smoke to Joshua, he, with all his force, returned
upon the pursuers, who now, when it was too late,
were aware of the share they were drawn into, for
their retreat being intercepted, they were every
man of them cut off. The like artifice we find
used, Judg. 20, 29, £J* c.
Now in this story we may observe,
1. What a brave commander Joshua was. See,
(1.) His conduct and prudence. God gave him
the hint, v. 2. that he should lay in ambush behind
the city, but left him to himself to order the parti¬
culars, which he did admirably well. Doubtless,
Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty
men, Eccl. 7. 19. (2.) His care and industry, v.
10. He rose up early in the morning, that he
might lose no time, and to show how intent his mind
was upon his business. Those that would maintain
their spiritual conflicts, must not love their ease.
3.) His courage and resolution; though an army of
sraelites had been repulsed before Ai, yet he re¬
solves to lead them on in person the second time,
v. 5. Being himself also an elder, he took the el¬
ders of Israel with him to make this attack upon
the citv, v. 10. as if he were go’ng rather to sit in
judgment upon them as criminals, than to fight
them as enenres. (4.) His caution and considera¬
tion, v.' 13. He went that night into the midst of the
valley, to make the necessary dispositions for an at¬
tack, and to see that every th'ng was in good order.
It is the pious conjecture of .the learned Bishop
Patrick that he went into the valley alone to pray
to God for a blessing upon his enterprise, and he
did not seek in vain. (5.) His constancy and per¬
severance; when he had stretched out his spear
toward the city, v. 18. (a spear almost as fatal and
formidable to the enemies of Israel as the rod cf
Moses was) he never drew back his hand till the
work was done. His hands in fighting, like Mo¬
ses’s in interceding, were steady to the going down
of the sun. Those that have stretched out their
hands against their spiritual enemies, must never
draw them back. Lastly, What Joshua did in the
stratagem is applicable to our Lord Jesus, of whom
he was a type. Joshua conquered by yielding, as
if he had himself been conquered; so our Lord Je¬
sus, when he bowed his head and gave up the
ghost, seemed as if death had triumphed Over h'm,
and as if he and all his interests had been routed
and ruined: but in his resurrection he rallied again
and gave the powers of darkness a total defeat ; he
broke the serpent’s head, by suffering him to bruise
his heel. A glorious stratagem!
2. What an obedient people Israel was; what
Joshua commanded them to do according to thecom-
i mandment of the Lord, v. 8. they did it without
murmuring or disputing. They that weie sent to
lie in ambush between Beth-et and Ai, (two cities
confederate against them,) were in a post of dan¬
ger, and had they been discovered, might all have
been cut off, and yet they ventured it; and when
the body of the army retreated and fled, it was both
disgraceful and perilous; and yet, in obedience to
Joshua, they did it.
3. What an infatuated enemy the king of Ai was,
(1.) That he did not by his scouts discover those
that lay in ambush behind the city, v. 14. Rome
observe it as a remarkable instance of the power of
God in making men blind to their own interest, and
the things that belong to their peace, that he wist
not that there were Hers in wait against him. They
are most in danger, who are least aware that they
are so. (2.) That when Israel seemed to fly, he
drew out all his forces to pursue them, and left none
to guard his city and to secure his retreat, v. 17.
Thus the church’s enemies often run themselves
into destruction by their own fury and the violence
of their rage against the Israel of God. Pharaoh
plunged himself into the Red-sea by the eagerness
with which he pursued Israel. (3.) That from the
killing of thirty-six men out of three thousand, when
Israei made the former attack upon his city, he
should infer the total muting of so great an army as
now he had to deal with, v. 6, They flee before us
as at the first. See how th e prosperity of fools de¬
stroys them, and hardens them to their ruin. God
had'made use of the men of Ai as a scourge to chas-
JOSHUA. VIII.
4 b
tise his people for meddling with the accursed
thing, and this had puffed them up with a conceit,
that they must have the honour of delivering their
country from these formidable invaders; but they
were soon made to see their mistake, and that when
the Israelites had reconciled themselves to their
God, they could have no power against them. God
had made use of them only for the rebuking of Is¬
rael, with a purpose, when the correction was over,
to throw the rod itself into the fire; howbeit , they
meant not so, but it was in their heart to destroy and
cut off, Isa. 10. 5* -7.
4. What a complete victory Israel obtained over
them by the favour and blessing of God. Each did
his part, the divided forces of Israel, by signals
agreed on, understood one another, and every thing
succeeded according to the project; so that the men
of Ai, then when they were most confident of vic¬
tory, found themselves surrounded, so that they
had neither spirit to resist nor room to fly, but were
under a fatal necessity of yielding their lives to the
destroyers. And now it is hard to say, whether the
shouts of the men of Israel, or the shrieks of the
men of Ai, were the louder, but easy to imagine
what terror and confusion they were filled with,
when their highest assurances sunk so suddenly
into the heaviest despair. Note, The triumphing of
the wicked is short, Job 20. 5. They are exalted for
a little while, that their fall and ruin may be the sorer,
Job 24. 24. See how easily, how quickly, the scale
turns against them that have not God on their side.
23. And the king of Ai they took alive,
and brought him to Joshua. 24. And it
came to pass, when Israel had made an
end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in
the field, in the wilderness wherein they
chased them, and when they were all fallen
on the edge of the sword, until they were
consumed, that all the Israelites returned
unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the
sword. 25. And so it was, that all that fell
that day, both of men and women, were
twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26. For Joshua drew not his hand back,
wherewith he stretched out the spear, until
he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants
of Ai. 27. Only the cattle and the spoil
of that city, Israel took for a prey unto
themselves, according unto the word of the
Lord, which he commanded Joshua. 28.
And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap
for ever, even a desolation, unto this day.
29. And the king of ai he hanged on a tree
until even-tide: and as soon as the sun was
down, Joshua commanded that they should
take his carcase down from the tree, and
cast it at the entering of the gate of the
city, and raise thereon a great heap of
stones, that remainetli unto this day.
We have here an account of the improvement
which the Israelites made of their victory over Ai.
1. They put all to the sword, not only in the
field, but in the city, man, woman, and child, none
of them remained, v. 24. God, the righteous
Judge, had passed this sentence upon them for their
wickedness, so that the Israelites were only the
ministers of his justice, and the executioners of his
•loom. Once in this story, and but once, mention
is made of the men of Beth-el, as confederates
with the men of Ai, v. 17. Though they had a
king of their own, and were not subjects to the
king of Ai, (for the king of Beth-el is reckoned
among the thirty-one kings that Joshua destroyed,
ch. 12. 16.) yet Ai being a stronger place, they
threw themselves into that, for their own safety,
and the strengthening of their neighbours’ hands,
and so (we may presume) were all cut off with
them; thus, that by which they hoped to prevent
their own ruin hastened it. The whole number
of the slain, it seems, was but twelve thousand, an
inconsiderable body to make head against all the
thousands of Israel; but whom God will destroy,
he infatuates. Here it is said, v. 26, that Joshua
drew not his hand back wherewith he stretched out
the s/iear, v. 18. till the slaughter was completed.
Some think the spear he stretched out, was not to
slay the enemies, but to animate and encourage his
own soldiers, some flag or ensign being hung out at
the end of this spear; and, they observe it as an in¬
stance of self-denial, that though the fire of courage
wherewith his breast was filled, would have pushed
him forward, sword in hand, into the hottest of the
action, yet, in obedience to God, he kept the infe¬
rior post of a standard-bearer, and did not quit it
till the work was done. By the spear stretched
out, he directed the people to expect their help
from God, and to him to give the praise.
2. They plundered the city, and took all the
spoil to themselves, v. 27. Thus the wealth of the
sinner is laid up for the just; the spoil they brought
out of Egypt, by borrowing of their neighbours,
was much of it expended upon the tabernacle they
had reared in the wilderness, for which they are
now reimbursed with interest. The spoil here
taken, it is probable, was all brought together, and
distributed by Joshua in due proportions, as that of
the Midianites was, Numb. 31. 26, istc. It was not
seized with irregularity or violence, for God is the
God of order and equity, and not of confusion.
3. They laid the city in ashes, and left it to re¬
main so, v. 28. Israel must yet dwell in tents, and
therefore this city, as well as Jericho, must be
burnt. And though there was no curse entailed
upon him that should rebuild it, yet, it seems, it
was not rebuilt, unless it be the same with Aija,
which we read of, long after, Neh. 11. 31. Some
think it was not rebuilt, because Israel had received
a defeat before it, the remembrance of which
should be buried in the ruins of the city.
4. The king of Ai was taken prisoner and cut off,
not by the sword of war, as a soldier, but by the
sword of justice, as a malefactor. Joshua ordered
him to be hanged, and his dead body thrown at
the gate of his own city, under a heafi of stones,
v. 23, 29. Some particular reason, no doubt, there
was for this severity against the king of Ai; it is
likely he had been notoriously wicked and vile, and
a blasphemer of the God of Israel, perhaps, upon
occasion of the repulse he had given to the forces
of Israel in their first onset. Some observe, that
his dead body was thrown at the gate where he had
been wont to sit in judgment, that so much the
greater contempt might thereby be poured upon
the dignity he had been proud of, and he might be
punished for the unrighteous decrees he had made in
the very place where he had made them. Thus the
Lord is known by the judgments which he executes.
30. Then Joshua built an altar unto the
Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, 31.
As Moses the servant of the Lord com¬
manded the children of Israel, as it is writ¬
ten in the book of the law of Moses, An
altar of whole stones, over which no man
46
JOSHUA, VIII.
hath lifted up any iron: and they offered
thereon burnt-offerings unto the Lord, and
sacrificed peace-offerings. 32. And he
wrote there upon the stones a copy of the
law of Moses, which he wrote in the pre¬
sence of the children of Israel. 33. And
all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and
their judges, stood on this side the ark and
on that side, before the priests the Levites,
which bare the ark of the covenant of the
Lord, as well the stranger as he that was
born among them : half of them over against
mount Gerizim; and halfof them over against
mount Ebal ; as Moses the servant of the
Lord had commanded before, that they
should bless the people of Israel. 34. And
afterward he read all the words of the law,
the blessings and cursings, according to all
that is written in the. book of the law. 35.
There was not a word of all that Moses
commanded which Joshua read not before
all the congregation of Israel, with the wo¬
men, and the little ones, and the strangers
that were conversant among them.
This religious solemnity which we have here an
account of, comes in somewhat surprisingly in the
midst of the history of the wars of Canaan. After
thetakingof Jerichoand Ai,we should have expected
that the next news should have been of their taking
possession of the country, the pushing on of their
victories in other cities, and the carrying of the war
into the bowels of the nation, now that they had made
themselves masters of these frontier towns. But
here a scene opens of quite another nature; the
camp of Israel is drawn out into the field, not to
engage the enemy, but to offer sacrifice, to hear the
law read, and to say Amen to the blessings and the
curses. Some think this was not done till after
some of the following victories were obtained, which
we read of, ch. 10. and 11. But it should seem by
the maps, that Shechem, (near to which these two
mountains, Gerizim and Ebal, were) was not so far
off from Ai, but that when they had taken that,
they might penetrate into that country as far as
those two mountains, and therefore I would not wil¬
lingly admit a transposition of the story; and the
rather, because as it comes in here, it is a remark¬
able instance, 1. Of the zeal of Israel for the ser¬
vice of God and for his honour. Though never
was war more honourable, more pleasant, or more
gainful, nor ever was war more sure of victory, or
more necessary to a settlement, (for they had
neither houses nor lands of their own, till they had
won them by the sword, no, not Joshua himself,)
yet all the business of the war shall stand still,
while they make a long march to the place ap¬
pointed, and there attend this solemnity. God ap-
fointed them to do this when they were got over
ordan, and they did it as soon as possibly they
could, though they might have had a colourable
pretence to have put it off. Note, We must not
think to defer our covenanting with God till we are
settled in the world, nor must any business put us
bv from minding and pursuing the one thing need¬
ful. The way to prosper, is to begin with God,
Matt. 6. 33. 2. It is an instance of the care of God
concerning his faithful servants and worshippers.
Though they were in an enemy’s country, as yet
unconquered, yet in the service of God they were
safe, as Jacob, when in this very country he was
going to Beth-el to pay his vows, the terror of God
was ufion the cities round about, Gen. 35. 5. Note,
When we are in the way of duty, God takes us
under his special protection.
Twice Moses had given express orders for this
solemnity; once Deut. 11. 29, 30. where he seems
to have pointed to the very place where it was to be
performed; and again, Deut. 27. 2, isfc. It was a
federal transaction: the covenant was now renewed
between God and Israel upon their taking posses¬
sion of the land of promise, that they might be en¬
couraged in the conquest of it, and might know
upon what terms they held it, and come under fresh
obligations to obedience. In token of the covenant,
I. They built an altar, and offered sacrifice to
God, v. 30, 31. in token of their dedication of them¬
selves to God, as living sacrifices to his honour, in
and by a mediator, who is the altar that sanctifies
this gift. This altar was erected on mount Ebal,
the mount on which the curse was put, Deut. 11.
29. to signify that there, where by the law we had
reason to expect a curse, by Christ’s sacrifice of
himself for us, and his mediation, we have peace
with God; he has redeemed us from the curse of
the law by being made a curse for us, Gal. 3. 13.
Even there where it was said, by the curse, Ye are
not my fieofile; there it is said, through Christ the
Altar, Ye are the children of the living God, Hos.
1. 10. The curses pronounced on mount Ebal
would immediately have been executed, if atone¬
ment had not been made by sacrifice.
By the sacrifice offered on this altar they did
likewise give God the glory of the victories they
had already obtained, as Exod. 17. 15. Now that
they had had the comfort of them in the spoils of
Ai, it was fit that Grd should have the praise of
them; and they also implored his favour for their
future success; for supplications as well as thanks¬
givings were intended in their peace-offerings. The
way to prosper in all that we put our hand to, is, to
take God along with us, and in all our ways to ac¬
knowledge him by prayer, praise, and dependence.
The altar they built, was of rough unhewn stone,
according to the law, Exod. 20. 25. for that which
is most plain and natural, and least artful and
affected in the worship of God, he is best pleased
with. Man’s device can add no beauty to God’s
institutions.
II. They received the law from God; and this
they must do, that would find favour with him, and
expect to have their offerings accepted; for if we
turn away our ear from hearing the law, our pray¬
ers will be an abomination. When God took Israel
into covenant, he gave tfiem his law, and they, in
token of their consent to the covenant, subjected
themselves to the law. Now here,
1. The law of the ten commandments was writ¬
ten upon stones in the presence of all Israel, as an
abridgment of the whole, v. 32. This copy was
not graven in the stone, as that which was reserved
in the ark, that was to be done only by the finger
of God; it is his prerogative to write the law in the
heart, but the stones were plastered, and it was
written upon the plaster, Deut. 27. 4, 8. It was
written, that all might see what it was that they
consented to, and that it might be a standing re¬
maining testimony to posterity, of God’s goodness
in giving them such good laws, and a testimony
against them, if they were disobedient to them. It
is a great mercy to any people to have the law of
God in writing, and it is fit that the written law
should be exposed to common view in a known
tongue, that it may be seen and read of all men,
2. The blessings and the curses, the sanctions of
the law, were publicly read, and the people, (we
may suppose,) according to Moses’s appointment,
said Amen to them, x’. 33, 34. The auditory was
47
JOSHUA, IX.
\try large; (1.) The greatest prince was not ex¬
cused, the elders, officers, and judges, are not above
the cognizance of the law, but will come under the
blessing or the curse, according as they are or are
not obedient to it, and therefore they must be pre¬
sent to consent to the covenant, and to go before the
people therein. (2 ) The poorest stranger was not
excluded; here was a general naturalization of
them, as well the stranger as he that was born
among them, was taken into covenant: this was an
encouragement to proselytes, and a happy presage
of the kindnesses intended for the poor Gentiles in
the latter days.
The tribes were posted, as Moses directed, six
toward Gerizim, and six toward Ebal. And the
ark in the midst of the valley was between them,
for it was the ark of the covenant; and, in it were
shut up the close rolls of that law, which were co¬
pied out, and shown openly upon the stones. The
covenant was commanded, and the command cove¬
nanted. The priests that attended the ark, or
some of the Levites that attended them, after the
people had all taken their places, and silence was
proclaimed, pronounced distinctly the blessings and
the curses, as Moses had drawn them up, to which
the tribes said Amen; and yet it is here onlv said,
that they should bless the people, for the blessing
was that which was first and chiefly intended, and
which God designed in giving the law. If they fell
under the curse, that was their own fault. And it
was really a blessing to the people that they had this
matter laid so plainly before them, Life and death,
good and evil; he had not dealt so with other nations.
3. The law itself also containing the precepts and
?rohibitions was read, ( v . 35.) it should seem by
oshua himself, who did not think it below him to
be a reader in the congregation of the Lord. In
conformity to this example, the solemn reading of
the law, which was appointed once in seven years,
(Deut. 21. 10, 11.) was performed by their king or
chief magistrate. It is here intimated what a
general publication of the law this was, (1.) Every
word was read; even the minutest precepts were
not omitted, nor the most copious abridged; not one
iota or tittle of the law shall pass away, and there¬
fore none was, in reading, skipped over, under pre¬
tence of want of time, or that any part was needless,
or not proper to be read. It was not many weeks
since Moses had preached the whole book of Deu¬
teronomy to them, yet Joshua must now read it all
over again; it is good to hear twice what God has
spoken once, Ps. 62.. 11. and to review what has
been delivered to us, or to have it repeated, that we
may not let it slip. (2.) Every Israelite was pre¬
sent, even the women and the little ones, that all
might know and do their duty. Note, Masters of
families should bring their wives and children with
them to the solemn assemblies for religious wor¬
ship. All that are capable of learning, must come
to be taught out of the law. The strangers also
attended with them ; for wherever we are, though
but as strangers, we should improve every oppor¬
tunity of acquainting ourselves with God and his
holy will.
CHAP. IX.
Here is in this chapter, I. The impolitic confederacy of the
kings of Canaan against Israel, v. 1, 2. II. The politic
confederacy of the inhabitants of Gibeon with Israel. 1.
How it was subtilely proposed and petitioned for by the
Gibeonites, pretending to come from a far country, v.
3. .13. 2. How it was unwarily consented to by Joshua
and the Israelites, to the disgust of the congregation
when the fraud was discovered, v. 14. .18. 3. How the
matter was adjusted to the satisfaction of all sides, by
giving these Gibeonites their lives, because they had co¬
venanted with them, yet depriving them of their liberties,
because the covenant was no1 fairly obtained, v. 19. . 27.
1. A ND it came to pass, when all the
LlL kings which were on this side Jordan,
in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the
coasts of the great sea over against Leba¬
non, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the
Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and
the Jebusite, heard thereof, 2. That they
gathered themselves together, to fight with
Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
Hitherto the Canaanites had acted defensively,
the Israelites were the aggressors upon Jericho and
Ai; but here the kings of Canaan are in consultation
to attack Israel, and concert matters for a vigorous
effort of their united forces, to check the progress
of their victorious arms. Now, 1. It was strange
they did not do this sooner. They had notice long
since of their approach; Israel’s design upon Canaan
was no secret; one would have expected that a pru¬
dent concern for their common safety should have
put them upon taking some measures to oppose their
coming over Jordan, and maintain that pass against
them, or to have given them a warm reception as
soon as they were over. It was strange they did
nut attempt to raise the siege of Jericho, or at" least
fall in with the men of Ai, when they had given
them a defeat. But they were either, through pre¬
sumption or despair, -wonderfully infatuated, and at
their wit’s end; many know not the things that be¬
long to their peace till they are hid from their eves.
2. It was more strange that they did it now. Now
that the conquest of Jericho had given such a preg¬
nant proof of God’s power, and that of Ai of Israel’s
policy, one would have thought the end of their
consultation should have been, not to fight with Is¬
rael, but to make peace with them, and to gain the
best terms they could for themselves. This had
been their wisdom, Luke 14. 32. but their minds
were blinded, and their hearts hardened to their
destruction.
Observe, (1.) What induced them now at last to
enter upon this consultation. When they heard
thereof, v. 1. not only of the conquest of Jericho
and Ai, but of the convention of the states of mount
Ebal, which we have an account of immediately be¬
fore; when they heard that Joshua, as if he thought
himself already complete master of the country,
had had all his people together, and had read the
laws to them, by which they must be governed,
and taken their promises to submit to those laws,
then they perceived the Israelites were in good
earnest, and thought it was high time for them to
bestir themselves. The pious devotions of God’s
people sometimes provokes and exasperates their
enemies more than any thing else. (2.) How
unanimous they were in their resolves. Though
they were many kings of different nations, Hittites,
Amorites, Perizzites, &c. doubtless of different in¬
terests, and that had often been at variance one
with another, yet they determined, nemine contra-
dicente — unanimously, to unite against Israel. O
that Israel would learn this of Canaanites, to sacri¬
fice private interests to the public welfare, and to
lay aside all animosities among themselves, that
they may cordially unite against the common ene¬
mies of God’s kingdom among men!
3. And when the inhabitants of Gibeon
heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho
and to Ai, 4. They did work wilily, and
went and made as if they had been ambas¬
sadors ; and took old sacks upon their asses,
and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound
48
JOSHUA, IX.
up: 5. And old shoes and clouted upon!
their feet, and old garments upon them ; and
all the bread of t heir provision was dry and
mouldy. 6. And they went to Joshua unto
the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and
to the men of Israel, We be come from a
far country : now therefore make ye a
league with us. 7. And the men of Israel
said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye
dwell among us ; and how shall we make a
league with you ? 8. And they said unto
Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua
said unto them, Who are ye ? and from
whence come ye ? 9. And they said unto
him, From a very far country thy servants
are come, because of the name of the Lord
thy God : for we have heard the fame of him,
and all that he did in Egypt, 10. And all
that he did to the two kings of the Amorites
that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of
Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which
was at Ashtaroth. 11. Wherefore our el¬
ders and all the inhabitants of our country
spake to us, saying, T ake victuals with you
for the journey, and go to meet them, and
say unto them, We are your servants:
therefore now make ye a league with us.
1 2. This our bread we took hot for our pro¬
vision out of our houses on the day we came
forth to go unto you ; but now, behold, it is
dry, and it is mouldy: 13. And these bot¬
tles of wine, which we filled, were new ;
and, behold, they be rent: and these our
garments and our shoes are become old by
reason of the very long journey. 1 4. And
the men took of their victuals, and asked
not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
Here,
I. The Gibeonites desire to make peace with
Israel, being alarmed by the tidings they heard of
the destruction of Jericho, v. 3. Other people
heard those tidings, and were irritated thereby to
make war upon Israel; but the Gibeonites heard
them, and were induced to make peace with them.
Thus the discovery of the glory and the grace of
God in the gospel, is to some a savour of life unto
life; but to others, a savour of death unto deaih, 2
Cor. 2. lb. The same sun soitens wax and hardens
clay. I do not remember that we read any where
of a king of Gibeon. Had their government been at
this time in a single person, perhaps his heart
would have been too high to yield to Israel, and he
would have joined with the rest of the kings against
Israel. But these four united cities, mentioned v.
17. seem to have been governed by elders or sena¬
tors, v. 11. who consulted the common safety more
than their own personal dignity. The inhabitants
of Gibeon did well for themselves. We have,
II. The method they took to compass it. They
knew that all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan
were to be cut off, perhaps they had some spies in
the congregation at Ebal, when the law was read,
who observed and brought them notice of the com¬
mand given to Israel, Deut. 7. 1 • • 3. that they should
show no mercy to the Canaanites, give them no
quarter in battle, which made them afraid of fight¬
ing them, and that they should make no covenan.
with them, which made them despair of gaining
any advantage by treating with them : and therefore
there was no way of saving their lives from the
sword of Israel, unless they could, by disguising
themselves, make Joshua believe that they came
from some very far country, which the Israelites
were not commanded to make war upon, nor for¬
bidden to make peace with, but were particularly
appointed to offer peace to, Deut. 20. 10, 15. Un¬
less they could be admitted under this notion, they
saw there was but one way with them, they must
submit to the fate of Jericho and Ai. Though
the neighbouring princes knew that all the men
thereof were mighty, ( ch . 10. 2.) and they knew it
themselves, yet they durst not contend with Israel,
who had an Almighty God on their side. This
therefore is the only game they have to play, and
they play it very artfully and successfully; never
was any such thing more craftily managed.
1. They came under the character of ambassa¬
dors from a foreign state, which they thought would
please the princes of Israel, and make them proud
of the honour of being courted by distant countries:
we find Hezekiah fond of those that came to him
from a far country, Isa. 39. 3. they had not used to
be thus courted.
2. They pretended to have undergone the fatigues
of a very long journey, and produced what passed
for an ocular demonstration of it. It should seem it
was then usual for those that undertook long jour-
nies, to take with them, as we do now for long
voyages, all manner of provision in kind, the coun¬
try not being furnished as our’s is now with houses
of entertainment, for the convenience of which,
when we have occasion to make use of them, we
have reason to be very thankful. Now, they here
pretended that their provision, when they brought
it from home, was fresh and new, but now it ap¬
peared to be old and dry, whereas it might well be
presumed they had not loitered, but made the best
of their way; so that from hence it must be inferred
that they came, as they said they did, from a very
far country, their sacks or portmanteaus were old,
the wine all urank, and the bottles in which it had
been, broken, their shoes and their clothes were
worse than those of the Israelites in forty years,
their bread mouldy, v. 4, 5. and again, v. 12, 13.
Thus God’s Israel" have often been deceived and
imposed upon with a show of antiquity. But fas
Bishop Hall expresses it) errors are ne-Oer the older
for being patched, and so seeming old; but they
that will be caught with this Gibeonitish stratagem,
prove they have not consulted with God. And thus
there are those who make themselves poor with the
badges of want and distress, and yet have great
riches, Prov. 13. 7. or at least have no need of re¬
lief, by which fraud charity is misplaced, and de¬
nied to those that are real objects ot it.
3. When they were suspected, and more strictly
examined from whence they came, they industri¬
ously declined telling the name of their countiy,
till the agreement was settled; (1.) The men of
Israel suspected a fraud, v. 7. “ Peradventure xjc
dwell among us, and then we may not, we must
not, make any league with you;” this might have
discouraged the Gibeonites from urging the mattei
any further, concluding that if the peace were made,
the Israelites would not think themselves obliged
to keep it, having thus solemnly protested against
it, in case they dwelt among them ; but knowing
that there was no hope at all if they stood it out,
they bravely ventured a submission; “ Who knows
but the people of Israel may save us alive, though
thus inveigled into a promise, and if we tell them at
last, we shall but die.” (2.) Joshua put the ques¬
tions to them, Who are ye? and from whence come
JOSHUA, IX. 4£»
ye? He finds himself concerned to stand upon his
guard against secret fraud, as well as against open
force; we in our spiritual warfare must stand against
the wiles' of the devil, remembering he is a subtle
serpent as well as a roaring lion. In all leagues of
relation and friendship we must first try, and then
trust, lest we repent at leisure agreements made in
haste. (3.) they would not tell whence they
came; but still repeat the same thing, We are come
from a very far country, v. 9. They will have it
thought, that it is a country Israel knows nothing
of, nor ever heard of, and therefore would be never
the wiser if they should tell him the name of it.
4. They profess a respect for the God of Israel,
the more to ingratiate themselves with Joshua, and
we charitably believe they were sincere in this pro¬
fession, “ We are come because of the name of the
Lord thy God, v. 9. because of what we have heard
of that name, which has convinced us that it is
above every name, and because we have a desire
toward that name, and the remembrance of it, and
would gladly come under its protection.
5. They fetch their inducements from what had
been done some time before in Moses’s reign, the
tidings whereof might easily be supposed ere this to
have reached distant regions, the plagues of Egypt
and the destruction of Sihon and Og, v. 9, 10. but
prudently say nothing of the destruction of Jericho
and Ai, (though that was the true inducement, v.
3.) because they will have it supposed that they
came from home long before those conquests were
made. W e need not be long to seek for reasons why
we should submit to the God of Israel; we may be
furnished either with new or old, which we will.
6. They make a good submission, We are your
servants, and humbly sue for a general agreement,
make a league with us, v. 11. They insist not upon
terms, but will be glad of peace upon any terms;
nor will the case admit of delays, lest the fraud be
discovered; fain would they have the bargain struck
up immediately; if Joshua will but make a league
with them, they have all they come for, and they
hope their ragged clothes and clouted shoes will be
no exception against them; God and Israel reject
none for their poverty.
Now, (1.) Their falsehood cannot be justified, nor
ought it to be drawn into a precedent. We must
not do evil, that good may come. Had they owned
their country but renounced the idolatries of it, re¬
signing the possession of it to Israel, and themselves
to the Gnd of Israel, we have reason to think Joshua
would have been directed by the oracle of God to
spare their lives, and they needed not to have made
these pretensions. It is observable, when they had
once said, We are come from a far country, v. 6.
they found themselves necessitated to say it again,
v. 9. and to say what was utterly false concerning
their bread, their bottles, their clothes, v. 12, 13.
for one lie is an inlet to another, and that to a third,
and so on. The way of that sin is down-hill.
But (2. ) Their faith and prudence are to be greatly
commended; our Lord commended even the unjust
steward, because he had done wisely and well for
himself, Luke 16. 8. In submitting to Israel, they
submitted to the God of Israel, which implied
a renunciation of the God they had served, a resig¬
nation to the laws of the true religion. They had
heard enough to convince them of the infinite power
of the God of Israel, and from thence might infer
his other perfections of wisdom and goodness; and
how can we do better for ourselves, than surrender
at discretion to infinite wisdom, and cast ourselves
ufion the mercy of a God of infinite goodness? The
submission of these Gibeonites was the more lauda¬
ble, because it was, [1.] Singular; their neighbours
took another course, and expected they should join
with them. [2.j Speedy; they did not stay till Is-
Vot,. II.— G
rael had besieged their cities; then it had been too
late to capitulate; but when they were at some dis¬
tance, they desired conditions of peace. The way
to avoid a judgment is to meet it by repentance.
Let us imitate these Gibeonites, and make our
peace with God in the rags of humiliation, godly
sorrow, and mortification, so our iniquity shall not
be our ruin. Let us be servants to Jesus, our blessed
Joshua, and make a league with him and the Israel
of God, and we shall live.
15. And Joshua made peace with them,
and made, a league with them, to let them
live: and the princes of the congregation
svvare unto them. 1 6. And it came to pass,
at the end of three days, after they had
made a league with them, that they heard
that they were their neighbours, and that
they dwelt among them. 1 7. And the chil¬
dren of Israel journeyed, and came unto
their cities on the third day. Now their
cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Bee-
roth, and Kirjath-jearim. 18. And the chil¬
dren of Israel smote them not, because the
princes of the congregation had sworn unto
them by the Lord God of Israel. And all
the congregation murmured against the
princes. 19. But all the princes said unto
all the congregation, We have sworn unto
them by the Lord God of Israel : now,
therefore we may not touch them. 20. This
we will do to them ; we will even let them
live ; lest wrath be upon us, because of the
oath which we sware unto them. 21. And
the princes said unto them, Let them live ;
but let them be hewers of wood and drawers
of water unto all the congregation •, as the
princes had promised them
Here is,
I. The treaty soon concluded with the Gibeon¬
ites, v. 14, 15. The thing was not done with much
formality, but in short. 1. They agreed to let
them live, and more the Gibeonites did not ask. In
a common war this had been but a small matter to
be granted; but in the wars of Canaan, which were
to make a general destruction, it was a great favour
to a Canaanite to have his life given him for a prey,
Jer. 45. 5. 2. This agreement was made not by
Joshua only, but by the princes of the congregation,
in conjunction with him. Though Joshua had an
extraordinary call to tne government, and extraor¬
dinary qualifications for it, yet he would not act in
an affair of this nature, without the counsel and con¬
currence of the princes, who were neither kept in
the dark nor kept under foot, but were treated by
him as sharers in the government. 3. It was rati
fied by an oath, they sware unto them, not by any
of the gods of Canaan, but by the God of Israel
only, v. 19. They that mean honestly, do not
startle at assurances, but satisfy those with whom
they treat, and glorifv God, by calling him to wit¬
ness to the sincerity of their intentions. 4. Nothing
appears to have been culpable in all this, but that
it was done rashly; they took of their victuals, by
which they satisfied themselves that it was indeed
old and dry, but did not consider that that was no
proof of their bringing it fresh from home; so that,
making use of their senses only, but not their rea¬
son, they received the men (; s the margin reads it)
50
JOSH!
because of their victuals, perceiving perhaps, upon
the view and taste of their bread, not only that now
it was old, but that it had been fine and very good
at first, whence they inferred that they were per¬
sons of some quality; and therefore the friendship
of their country was not to be despised. But they
asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord. They
had the Urim and Thummim with them, which
they might have advised with in this difficult case,
and that would have told them no lie, would have
led them into no error; but they relied so much on
their own politics, that they thought it needless to
bring the matter to the oracle. Joshua himself was
not altogether without blame herein. Note, We
then make more haste than good speed in any busi¬
ness, when we stay not to take God along with us,
and by the word and prayer to consult him. Many
a time we see cause to reflect upon it with regret,
that such and such an affair miscarried, because we
asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord; would
we acknowledge him in all our ways, we should
find them more safe, easy, and successful.
II. The fraud soon cliscovered by which this
league was procured. A lying tongue is but for a
moment, and truth will be the daughter of time.
Within three days they found, to their great sur¬
prise, that the cities which these ambassadors had
treated for, were very near them, but one night’s
foot-march from the camp at Gilgal, ch. 10. 9.
Either their own scouts, or the parties that sallied
out to acquaint themselves with the country, or per¬
haps some deserters that came over to them from
the enemy, informed them of the truth of this mat¬
ter. They that suffer themselves to be deceived
by the wiles of Satan, will soon be undeceived to
their confusion, and will find that near, even at
the door, which they imagined was very far off.
III. The disgust of the congregation at this.
They did indeed submit to the restraints which this
league laid upon them, and smote not the cities of
the Gibeonites, neither slew the persons, nor seized
the prey; but it vexed them to have their hands
thus tied, and they murmured against the princes,
(v. 18.) it is to be feared, more from a jealousy for
their own profit, than from a zeal for the fulfilling
of God’s command, though some of them perhaps
had a regard to that. Many are forward to arraign
and censure the actions of princes while they are
ignorant of the springs of those actions, and are in¬
competent judges of the reasons of state that go¬
vern them. While therefore we are satisfied in
general that those who are over us aim at nothing
but the public good, and sincerely seek the welfare
of their people, we ought to make the best of what
they do, and not exercise ourselves in things above
us.
IV. The prudent endeavour of the princes to pa¬
cify the discontented congregation, and to accom¬
modate the matter; herein all the princes concur¬
red and were unanimous, which doubtless disposed
the people to acquiesce.
1. They resolved to spare the lives of the Gibe¬
onites, for so they had expressly sworn to do, v. 15.
to let them live.
(1.) The oath was lawful, else it had not bound
them any more than Herod’s oath bound him to
cut off John Baptist’s head; it is true, God had ap¬
pointed them to destroy all the Canaanites, but that
law must be construed in favor em vitge — with some
tender allowance, to mean those only that stood it
out, and would not surrender their country to them,
and not to bind them so far to put off the sense of
lionour and humanity, as to slay those who had
never lifted up a hand against them, nor ever
would, but before they were reduced to any ex¬
tremity, or ever attempted anv act of hostility, with
one consent humbled themselves; the kings of Is-
TA, IX.
rael were certainly more merciful kings than to do
so, ,1 Kings 20. 31. and the God of Israel a more
merciful God than to order it so; Satis est pros-
trdsse leoni — It is enough to have laid the lion pros¬
trate. And besides, the reason of the law is the
law; the mischief designed to be prevented by that
law, was the infecting of the Israelites with their
idolatry; Deut. 7. 4. But if the Gibeonites re¬
nounce their idolatry, and become friends and ser¬
vants to the house of God, the danger is effectually
prevented, the reason of the law ceases, and conse¬
quently the obligation of it, especially to a thing of
this nature. The conversion of sinners shall pre¬
vent their ruin.
(2. ) The oath being lawful, both the princes, and
the people for whom they transacted, were bound
by it, bound in conscience, bound in honour to the
God of Israel, by whom they had sworn, and whose
names would have been blasphemed by the Ca¬
naanites, if they had violated this oath. They speak
as those that feared an oath (Eccl. 9. 2.) when they
argued thus; We will let them live, lest wrath be
upon us, because of the oath which we sware, v. 20.
He that ratifies a promise with an oath, imprecates
the divine vengeance if he wilfully break his pro¬
mise, and has reason to expect that divine justice
will take him at his word. God is not mocked,
and therefore oaths are not to be jested with. The
princes will keep their word, [1.] Though they
lest by it. A citizen of Sion swears to his own hurt,
and changes not, Ps. 15. 4. Joshua and the princes,
when they found it was to their prejudice that they
had thus bound themselves, did not apply them¬
selves to Eleazar for a dispensation, much less did
they pretend that no faith is to be kept with here¬
tics, with Canaanites; no, they were strangers to
the modern artifices of the Roman Church, to elude
the most sacred bonds, and even to sanctify per¬
juries. [2.] Though the people were uneasy at it,
and their discontent might have ended in a mutinv,
yet the princes would not violate their engagement
to the Gibeonites; we must never be over-awed,
either by majesty or multitude, to do a sinful thing,
and to go against our consciences. [3.] Though
they were drawn into this league by a wile, and
might have had a very plausible pretence to de¬
clare it null and void, yet they adhered to it. They
might have pleaded that though those were the
men with whom they exchanged the ratifications,
yet these were not the cities intended in the league;
they had promised to spare certain cities, without
names, that were very far rff, and upon the express
consideration of their being so, but these were very
near, and therefore not the cities that they covenant¬
ed with. And many learned men have thought that
they were so grossly imposed upon by the Gibeonites,
that it would have been lawful for them to have re¬
called their promise; but to preserve their reputa¬
tion, and to keep up in Israel a veneration for an
oath, they would stand to it; but it is plain that
they thought themselves indispensably obliged by
it, and were apprehensive that the wrath of God
would fall upon them if they broke it. And how¬
ever their adherence to it might be displeasing to
the congregation, it is plain that it was acceptable
to God, for when, in pursuance of this league, they
undertook the protection of the Gibeonites, God
gave them the most glorious victory that ever they
had in all their wars, ch. 10. and long after severely
avenged the wrong Saul did to the Gibeonites in vio¬
lation of this league, 2 Sam. 21. 1. Let this con¬
vince us all how religiously we ought to perform
our promises, and make good our bargains; and
what conscience we ought to make of our words,
when they are once given. If a covenant obtained
by so many lies and deceits might not be broken,
shall we think to evade the obligation of those that
51
JOSHUA, IX.
have been made with all possible honesty and
fairness? If the fraud of others will not justify or
excuse our falsehood, certainly the honesty of
others in dealing with us, will aggravate and con¬
demn our dishonesty in dealing with them.
2. Though they spared their lives, yet they
seized their liberties, and sentenced them to be
hewers of wood, and drawers of water, to the con¬
gregation, v. 21. By this proposal the discontent¬
ed congregation was pacified; for (1.) They who
were angry that the Gibeonites lived, might be
content when they saw them condemned to that
which, in the general apprehension, is worse than
death, perpetual servitude. (2. ) They who were
angry that they were not spoiled, might be content
when their service of the congregation would be
more to the public advantage, than their best ef¬
fects could be; and, in short, the Israelites would
be no losers either in honour or profit by this peace
with the Gibeonites; convince them of this, and
they will be satisfied.
22. And Joshua called for them, and he
spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have
ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far
from you ; when ye dwell among us? 23.
Now therefore ye are cursed ; and there
shall none of you be freed from being bond-
men, and hewers of wood and drawers of
water for the house of my God. 24. And
they answered Joshua, and said, Because
it was certainly told thy servants, how that
the Lord thy God commanded his servant
Moses to give you all the land, and to de¬
stroy all the inhabitants of the land from be¬
fore you, therefore we were sore afraid of
our lives because of you, and have done
this thing. 25. And now, behold, we are
in thine hand : as it seemeth good and right
unto thee to do unto us, do. 26. And so
did he unto them, and delivered them out
of the hand of the children of Israel, that
they slew them not. 27. And Joshua made
them that day hewers of wood and draw¬
ers of water, for the congregation and for
the altar of the Lord, even unto this day,
in the place which he should choose.
The matter is here settled between Joshua and
the Gibeonites, and an explanation of the league
agreed upon; we may suppose that now, not the
messengers who were first sent, but the elders of
Gibeon, and of the cities that were dependent upon
it, were themselves present, and treated with, that
the matter might be fully compromised.
I. Joshua reproves them for their fraud, v . 22.
And they excuse it as well as they can, v. 24. 1.
Joshua gives the reproof very mildly; 117 lerefore
have ye beguiled us? He does not load them with
any ill names, does not give them any harsh pro¬
voking language, does not call them, as they de¬
served to be called, base liars, but only asks them,
Why have ye beguiled us? Under the greatest pro¬
vocations, it is our wisdom and duty to keep our
temper, and .to bridle our passion; a just cause
needs not anger to defend it, and a bad one is made
never the better by it. 2. They make the best ex¬
cuse for themselves that the thing would bear, v.
24. They found by the word of God, that sentence
of death was passed upon them, (the command was
to destroy all the inhabitants of the land, without
exception,) and they found by the works of God
already wrought, that there was no opposing the
execution of this sentence; they considered that
God’s sovereignty is incontestable, his justice in¬
flexible, his power irresistible, and therefore re¬
solved to try what his mercy was, and found it was
not in vain to cast themselves upon it. They do
not go about to justify their lie, but in effect beg
pardon for it, pleading it was purely to save
their lives that they did it, which every man that
finds in himself the force of the law of self-pre¬
servation, will therefore make great allowances
for; especially in such a case as this, where the
fear was not merely of the power of man, (if that
were all, one might flee from that to the divine
protection,) but of the power of God himself,
which they saw engaged against them.
II. Joshua condemns them to servitude, as a pun¬
ishment of their fraud, v. 23. and they submit to
the sentence, i'. 25. and for aught that appears,
both sides are pleased.
1. Joshua pronounces them perpetual bondmen.
They had purchased their lives with a lie, but that
being no good consideration, he obliges them to hold
their lives under the rent and reservation of their
continual labours, in hewing wood and drawing wa¬
ter, the meanest and most toilsome employments.
Thus their lie was punished; had they dealt fairly
and plainly with Israel, perhaps they had had more
honourable conditions granted them, but now, since
they gain their lives with ragged clothes and clout¬
ed shoes, the badges of servitude, they are con¬
demned for ever to wear such, so must their doom
be. And thus the ransom of their lives is paid; do¬
minion is acquired by the preservation of a life that
lies at mercy ( Serous dicitur a servanda — A ser¬
vant is so called from the act of saving ,) they
owe their service to them to whom they owe their
lives. Observe how the judgment is given against
them. (1.) Their servitude is made a curse to
them. “ Now ye are cursed with the ancient curse
of Canaan,” from whom these Hivites descended,
a servant of servants shall thou be, Gen. 9. 25.
What shall be done to the false tongue but this?
Cursed shall it be. (2.) Yet this curse is turned
into a blessing; they must be serv ants, but it shall
be for the house of my God. The princes would
have them slaves unto all the congregation, v. 21.
at least, they chose to express themselves so, for
the pacifying of the people that were discontented,
but Joshua mitigates the sentence, both in honour
to God and in favour to the Gibeonites: it would be
too hal'd upon them to make them every man’s
drudge; if they must be hewers of wood and draw¬
ers o f water, than which there cannot be a greater
disparagement, especially to them who are citizens
of a royal city, and all mighty men, cli. 10. 2. yet
they shall be so to the house of mu God, than
which there cannot be a greater preferment: Da¬
vid himself could have wished to be a door-keeper
there. Even servile work becomes honourable
when it is done for the house of my God, and the
offices thereof.
[1.] They were hereby excluded from the liber¬
ties and privileges of true-born Israelites, and a re¬
maining mark of distinction put upon their posteritv
throughout all their generations. [2. ] They were
hereby employed in such services as required their
personal attendance upon the altar of God, in the
filace which he should choose, v. 27. which would
bring them to the knowledge of the law of God,
keep them tight to that holy religion to which they
were proselyted, and prevent their revolt to the
idolatries of their fathers. [3.] This would be a
greet advantage to the priests and Levites to have
so many, and those mighty men, constant attend-
JOSHUA, X.
ants upon them, and engaged by office to do all i
tiie drudgery of the tabernacle. A great deal of
wood must be hewed for fuel for God’s house, j
not only' to keep the fire burning continually
upon the altar, buc to boil the flesh of the
pea.:e-offerings, &c. And a great deal of water
must be drawn for the divers washings which the
law prescribed; these and other such servile works,
such as washing the vessels, carrying out ashes,
sweeping the courts,^. which otherwise the Le-
vites must have done themselves, these Gibeonites
were appointed to do. [4.] They were herein
servants to the congregation too; for whatever pro¬
motes and helps forward the worship of God, is
real service to the commonwealth. It is the inter¬
est of every Israelite, that the altar of God be well
attended. Hereby also the congregation was excus¬
ed from much of this servile work, which per¬
haps would otherwise have been expected from
some of them. God had made a law that the Is¬
raelites should never make any of their brethren
bondmen; if they had slaves, they must be of the
heathen that were round about them, Lev. 25. 44.
Now, in honour of this law, and of Israel that was
honoured by it, God would not have the drudgery,
no, not of the tabernacle itself, to be done by Israel¬
ites, but by Gibeonites, who were afterward called
JVethinim , men given to the Levites as they were to
the priests, (Numb. 3. 9.) to minister to them in
the service of God. [5.] This may be looked upon
as typifying the admission of the Gentiles into the
Gospel-Church. Now they were taken in upon
their submission to be under-officers, but afterward
God promises that he will take of them, for firiests
and Levites, Isa. 66. 21.
2. They submit to this condition, v. 25. Con¬
scious of a fault in framing a lie whereby to deceive
the Israelites, and sensible also how narrowly they
escaped with their lives, and what a kindness it was
to have them spared, they acquiesce in the propo¬
sal, Do as it seemeth right unto thee. Better live in
servitude, especially such servitude, than not live
at all. Those of the very meanest and most despi¬
cable condition, are described to be hewers of wood,
and drawers of water, Deut. 29. 11. But skin for
skin, liberty and labour, and all that a man has,
will he give for his life, and no ill bargain. Accor¬
dingly the matter was determined, (1.) Joshua de¬
livered them out of the hands of the Israelites that
they should not be slain, v. 26. It seems there
were those who would have fallen upon them with
the sword, if Joshua had not interposed with his
authority; but wise generals know when to lock up
the sword, as well as when to draw it. (2. ) He
then delivered them again into the hands of the Is¬
raelites to be enslaved, v. 27. They were not to
keep possession of their cities, for we find afterward
that three of them fell to the lot of Beniamin, and one
to that of Judah ; nor were they themselves to be
at their own disposal, but, as Bishop Patrick thinks,
were dispersed into the cities of the priests and Le¬
vites, and came up with them in their courses to
serve at the altar, out of the profits of which, it is
robable, they were maintained. And thus Israel’s
ondmen became the Lord’s freemen, for his ser¬
vice in the meanest office is liberty, and his work is
its own wages. And this they got by their early
submission. Let us, in like manner, submit to our
Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to him, saying,
“ We are in thy hand, do unto us as seemeth good
and right unto thee ; only save our souls, and we
shall not repent it:” if he appoints us to bear his
cross, and draw in his yoke, and serve at his altar,
that shall be afterward neither shame nor grief to
us, while the meanest office in God’s service will
entitle us to a dwelling in the house of the Lord
all the days of our life.
CHAP. X.
1 We have in this chapter an account of the conquest of the
kings and kingdoms of the southern part of the land
of Canaan, as, in the next chapter, of the reduction
of the northern parts, which together completed the
glorious successes of the wars of Canaan. In this
chapter we have an account, I. Of the routing of
their forces in the field- In which observe, I. Their con¬
federacy against the Gibeonites, v. 1 . . 5. 2. The Gib¬
eonites’ request to Joshua to assist them, v. 6. 3. Josh¬
ua’s speedy march under divine encouragement for their
relief, v. 7.. 9. 4. The defeat of the armies of these
confederate kings, v. 10,11. 5. The miraculous pro¬
longing of the day by the standing still of the sun in fa¬
vour of the conquerors, v. 12 . . 14. II. Of the execu¬
tion of the kings that escaped out of the battle, v. 15. .
27. III. Of the taking of the particular cities, and the
total destruction of all that were found in them. Mak-
kedah, v. 28. Libnah, v. 29, 30. Lachish, v. 31, 32, and
the kipg of Gezer that attempted its rescue, v. 33. Eg-
lon, v. 34; 35. Hebron, v. 36, 37. Debir, v. 38, 39. And
the bringing of all that country into the hands of Israel,
v. 40. . 42. And lastly, the return of the army to their
head-quarters.
1 OW it came to pass, when Adoni-
J3I zedek king of Jerusalem had heard
how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly
destroyed it ; as he had done to Jericho and
her king, so he had done to Ai and her
king; and how the inhabitants of Gibe-
on had made peace with Israel, and were
among them ; 2. That they feared greatly,
because Gibeon was a great city, as one of
the royal cities, and because it was greater
than Ai, and all the men thereof were
mighty. 3. Wherefore Adoni-zedek king
of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of He¬
bron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and
unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto De¬
bir king of Eglon, saying, 4. Come up
unto me, and help me, that we may
smite Gibeon : for it hath made peace
with Joshua and with the children of Is¬
rael. 5. Therefore the five kings of the
Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of
Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of
Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered them¬
selves together, and went up, they and all
their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon,
and made war against it. 6. And the men
of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp at
Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy
servants ; come up to us quickly, and save
us, and help us : for all the kings of the Am¬
orites that dwell in the mountains are gath¬
ered together against us.
Joshua and the hosts of Israel had now been a
good while in the land of Canaan, and no great
matters were effected; they were made masters of
Jericho by miracle, of Ai by stratagem, and of Gib¬
eon by surrender, and that was all; hitherto the
progress of their victories has not seemed propor¬
tionable to the magnificence of their entry and the
glory of their beginnings. Those among them that
were impatient of delays, it is probable, complain
ed of Joshua’s slowness, and asked why they did not
immediately penetrate into the heart of the country,
before the enemy could rally their forces to make
53
JOSHUA, X.
head against them; why they stood trifling, while
they were so confident both of their title and of
their success. Thus Joshua’s prudence, perhaps,
was censured as slothfulness, cowardice, and want
of spirit. But, 1. Canaan was not to be conquered
in a day. God had said, that by little and little he
would drive out the Canaanites, Exod. 23. 30. He
that believeth, will not make haste, or conclude
that the promise will never be performed, because
it is not performed so soon as we expected. 2.
Joshua waited for the Canaanites to be the aggress¬
ors; let them first make an onset upon Israel, on
the allies of Israel, and then their destruction will
be, or at least will appear to be, the more just and
the more justifiable. Joshua had warrant sufficient
to set upon them, yet he stays till they strike the
first stroke, that he might provide for honest things,
in the sight, not only of God, but of men; and they
would be the more excusable in their resistance,
now that they had seen what favour the Gibeonites
found with Israel. 3. It was for the advantage of
Israel to sit still a while, that the forces of these
little kings might unite in one body, and so might
the easier be cut off at one blow. This God had
in his eye when he put it into their hearts to com¬
bine against Israel; though they designed thereby
to strengthen one another, that which he intended,
was, to gather them as sheaves into the floor, to fall
together under the flail, Mic. 4. 12. Thus often¬
times that seeming paradox proves wholesome
counsel, Stay a while, and we shall have done the
sooner.
After Israel had waited a while for an occasion to
make war upon the Canaanites, a fair one offers
itself.
I. Five kings combine against the Gibeonites.
A.doni-zedek king of Jerusalem was the first mover
and ringleader of this confederacy. He had a good
name; it signifies lord of righteousness-, a descendant
perhaps from Melchizedek, king of righteousness;
but notwithstanding the goodness of his name and
family, it seems he was a bad man, and an implaca¬
ble enemy to the posterity of that Abraham, whom
his predecessor, Melchizedek, was such a faithful
friend to. He called upon his neighbours to join
against Israel, either because he was the most ho¬
nourable prince, and had the precedency among
these kings, (perhaps they had some dependence
upon him, at least they paid a deference to him, as
the most public, powerful, and active man they
had among them,) or, because he was first or most
apprehensive of the danger his country was in, not
only by the conquest of Jericho and Ai, but the sur¬
render of Gibeon, which, it seems, was the chief
thing that alarmed him, it being one of the most
considerable frontier-towns they had. Against Gib-
eon therefore all the force he could raise, must be
levelled; Come, says he, and helfi me, that we may
smite Gibeon. This he resolves to do, either, 1. In
policy; that he might retake the city, because it
was a strong city, and of great consequence to his
country, in whose hands it was; or, 2. In passion,
that he might chastise the citizens for making
peace with Joshua, pretending that they had per¬
fidiously betrayed their country and strengthened
the common enemy, whereas they had really done
the greatest kindness imaginable to their country
by setting them a good example, if they would have
followed it. Thus Satan and his instruments make
war upon those that make peace with God: marvel
not if the world hate you, and treat those as desert¬
ers, who are converts to Christ.
II. The Gibeonites send notice to Joshua of the
distress and danger they were in, v. 6. Now they
expect benefit from the league they had made with
Israel, because though it was obtained by deceit, it
was afterward confirmed when the truth came out.
They think Joshua obliged to help them, 1. In
conscience, because they were his servants, not in
compliment, as they had said in their first address,
ch. 9. 8, We are thy sen-ants, but in reality made
servants to the congregation; and it is the duty of
masters to take care of the poorest and meanest of
their servants, and not to see them wronged when
it is in the power of their hand to right them. They
that pay allegiance may reasonably expect protec¬
tion. Thus David pleads with God, Ps. 119. 94, I
am thine ; save me; and so may we, if indeed we be
his. 2. In honour, because the ground of their ene
mies’ quarrel with them, was, the respect they had
shown to Israel, and the confidence they had in a
covenant with them. Joshua cannot refuse to help
them, when it is for their affection to him, and to
the name of his God, that they are attacked. Da¬
vid thinks it a good plea with God, Ps. 69. 7, For
thy sake I have borne re/iroach. When our spirit¬
ual enemies set themselves in array against us, and
threaten to swallow us up, let us, by faith and prayer,
apply ourselves to Christ, our Joshua, for strength
and succour, as St. Paul did, and we shall receive
the same answer of peace, My grace is sufficient
for thee, 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9.
7. So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he
and all the people of war with him, and all
the mighty men of valour. 8. And the
Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not ;
for I have delivered them into thine hand :
there shall not a man of them stand before
thee. 9. Joshua therefore came unto them
suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all
night. 10. And the Lord discomfited them
before Israel, and slew them with a great
slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along
the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and
smote them to Azekah, and unto Makke-
dah. 1 1 . And it came to pass, as they fled
from before Israel, and were in the going
down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast
down great stones from heaven upon them
unto Azekah, and they died : they were more
which died with hailstones than they whom
the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12. Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the
day when the Lord delivered up the Amor-
ites before the children of Israel, and he
said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou
still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the
valley of Ajalon. 13. And the sun stood
still, and the moon stayed, until the pec»p]e
had avenged themselves upon their enemies.
Is not this written in the book of Jasher?
So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven,
and hasted not to go down about a whole
day. 14. And there was no day like that
before it or after it, that the Lord hearken¬
ed unto the voice of a man : for the Lord
fought for Israel.
Here,
I. Joshua resolves to assist the Gibeonites, and
God encourages him in that resolve. 1. He ascend¬
ed from Gilgal, v. 7. that is, he designed, deter¬
mined, and prepared for, this expedition to relieve
JOSHUA, X.
G:beo», for it is probable it was before he stirred a
step that God spake to him to encourage him. It
was generous and just in Joshua to help his new al¬
lies, though perhaps the king of Jerusalem, when
he attacked them, little thought that Joshua would
have been so ready to help them, but expected he
would abandon them as Canaanites, the rather
because they had obtained their league with him by
fraud; therefore he speaks with assurance, v. 4. of
smiting Gibeon. But Joshua knew that his promise
to let them live, obliged him, not only not to slay
them himself, but not to stand by and see them
slain, when it was in the power of his hand to
prevent it, Prcv. 24. 11, 12. He knew that when
they embraced the faith and worship of the God
rf Israel, they came to trust under the shadow of
his wings, (Ruth 2. 12.) and therefore, as his ser¬
vants, he was bound to protect them. 2. Gcd ani¬
mated him for his undertaking, v. 8. Fear not, that
is. O') “Doubt net of the goodness of thy cause,
and the clearness of thy call; though it be to as-
s:st Gibeonites, thou art in the way of duty, and
God is with thee of a truth. ” (2. ) “ Dread not the
power of the enemy; though so many enemies are
confederate against thee, and are resolved to make
their utmost efforts for the reduction of Gibeon,
and, it may be, will fight desperately in a desperate
cause; yet let not that discourage thee, I have de¬
livered them into thine hand;” and those can make
neither resistance, nor escape, whom God has
marked for destruction.
II. Joshua applies h:mself to execute this resolve,
and God assists him in the execution. Here we have,
1. The great industry of Joshua, and the power
ot God working with that for the defeat of the ene¬
my. In this action,
(1.) Joshua showed his good-will in the haste he
made for the relief of Gibeon, v. 9, He came unto
them suddenly; for the extremity was such as would
not admit delay. If one of the tribes of Israel had
been in danger, he could not have showed more
care or zeal for its relief than here for Gibeon, re¬
membering in this, as in other cases, there must be
one law for the stranger that was proselyted, and
for him that was born in the land. Scarcely had
the confederate princes got their forces together,
and sat down before Gibeon, when Joshua was upon
them, the surprise of which would put them into
the greatest confusion. Now that the enemy were
actually drawn up into a body, which had all as it
were but one neck, despatch was as serviceable to
his cause, as before delay was, while he waited for
this general rendezvous; and now that things were
ripe for execution, no man more expeditious than
Joshua who before had seemed slow. Now, it shall
never be said, He left that to do to-morrow which
he could do to-day. When Joshua found he could
not reach Gibeon in a day, lest he should lose any
real advantages against the enemy, or so much as
seem*to come short, or to neglect h's new allies, he
marched all night, resolving not to give sleep to his
eyes, nor slumber to his eve-lids, till he had accom¬
plished this enterprise. It was well the forces he
took with him were mighty men of valour, not
only able-bodied men, but men of spirit and resolu¬
tion, and hearty in the cause, else they neither
could nor would have borne this fatigue, but would
have murmured at their leader, and would have
asked, "Is this the rest we were promised in Ca¬
naan?” But they well considered that the present
toil was in order to a happy settlement, and there¬
fore were reconciled to it. Let the good soldiers
of Jesus Christ learn from hence to endure hard¬
ness, in following the I.amb whithersoever he goes,
and not think themselves undone, if their religion
lose them now and then a night’s sleep; it will be
enough to rest, when we come to heaven.
But why needed Joshua to put himself and his
men so much to the stretch? Had not God pro¬
mised him, that without fail he would deliver the
enemies into his hand ? It is true he had; but God’s
promises are intended, not to slacken and super¬
sede, but to quicken and encourage our endeavours.
He that believeth, doth not make haste to antici¬
pate providence, but doth make haste to attend it,
with a diligent, not a distrustful speed.
(2.) God showed his great power in defeating the
enemies which Joshua so vigorously attacked, v.
10, 11. Joshua had a very numerous and powerful
army with him, hands enough to despatch a dis
pirited enemy, so that the enemy might have been
scattered by the ordinary fate of war; but God him¬
self would appear in this great and decisive battle,
and draw up the artillery of heaven against the
Canaanites, to demonstrate to his people, that they
got not this land in possession by their own sword,
neither did their own arm save them, but God’s
right hand and his arm, Ps. 44. 3. The Lord dis¬
comfited them before Israel; Israel did what they
could, and yet God did all. [1.] It must needs be
a very great terror and confusion to the enemy, to
perceive that heaven itself fought against them; for
who can contest with, flee from, or fence against
the powers of heaven? 1'hey had affronted the
true God, and robbed him of his honour, by wor¬
shipping the host of heaven, giving that worship to
the creature which is due to the Creator only; and
now the host of heaven fights against them, and
even that part of the creation which they had
idolized, is at war with them, and even triumphs in
their ruin, Jer. 8. 2. There is no way of making
any creature propitious to us, no not by sacrifice or
offering, but only by making our peace with God,
and keeping ourselves in his love. This had been
enough to make them an easy prey to the victorious
Israelites, yet this was not all. [2.] Beside the
terror struck upon them, there was a great slaugh¬
ter made cf them by hail-stones, which were so
large, and came down with such a force, that more
were killed by the hail-stones than by the sword of
the Israelites, though no doubt, they were busy.
God himself speaks to Job of treasures, or maga¬
zines, of snow and hail, which he has reserved for
the day of battle and war, Job 38. 22, 23. and here
they are made use of to destroy the Canaanites.
Here was hail shot from God’s great ordinance,
that, against whomsoever it was directed, was sure
to hit, (and never glanced upon the Israelites
mixed with them,) and whenever it hit was sure to
kill. See here how miserable they are, that have
God for their enemy, and how sure to perish; it is
a fearful thing to fall into his hands, for there is no
fleeing out of them. Some observe, that Beth-
horon lay north of Gibeon, Azekah and Makkedah
lay south, so that they fled each way; by which way
soever they fled, the hail-stones pursued them, ancl
met them at every turn.
2. The great faith of Joshua, and the power of
God crowning that with the miraculous arrest of
the sun, that the day of Israel’s victories might be
prolonged, and so the enemy totally defeated. The
hail-stones had their rise no higher than the clouds,
but, to show that Israel’s help came from above the
clouds, the sun itself, who by his constant motion
serves the whole earth, by halting when there was
occasion, served the Israelites, and did them a kind¬
ness; the sun and moon stood still in their habitation,
at the light of thine arrowy which gave ‘he signal,
Hab. 3. 13.
(1.) Here is the praver of Joshua that the sun
might stand still. I call it his prayer , because it is
said, v. 12, he spake to the Lord; as Elijah, though
we read, 1 Kings 17. 1. only by his prophesying of
the drought, yet is said, James 5. 17, to pray for it
JOSHUA, X.
Observe, [1.] An instance of Joshua’s unwearied
activity in the service of God and Israel, that
though he had marched all night and fought all
day, and, one might expect, would be inclined to
repose himself and get a little sleep, and give his
army some time to rest, that, like the hireling, he
would earnestly have desired the shadow, and bid
the night welcome, when he had done such a good
day’s work, yet, instead of that, he wishes for
nothing so much as the prolonging of the day.
Note, Those that wait on the Lord, and work for
him, shall renew their strength, shall run and not
be weaiQ/, shall walk and not faint, Isa. 40. 31.
[2.] An instance of his great faith in the almighty
power of God, as above the power of nature, and
able to control and alter the usual course of it. No
doubt, Joshua had an extraordinary impulse or im¬
pression upon his spirit, which he knew to be of
divine original, prompting him to desire that this
miracle might be wrought upon this occasion, else
it had been presumption in him to desire or expect
it, the prayer had not been granted by the divine
power, if it had not been dictated by the divine
grace; God wrought this faith in him, and then said,
“ According to thy faith, and thy prayer of faith,
be it unto thee.” It cannot be imagined however
that such a thing as this should have entered into
his mind, if God had not put it there; a man would
have had a thousand projects in his head for the
completing of the victory, before he would have
thought of desiring the sun to stand still; but even
in the Old Testament saints, the Spirit made inter¬
cession according to the will of God; what God will
give, he inclines the hearts of his praying people to
ask; and for what he will do, he will be inquired
of, Ezek. 36. 37.
Now, First, It looked great for Joshua to say,
Sun, stand thou still. His ancestor Joseph had in¬
deed dreamed that the sun and moon did obeisance
to him; but who would have thought that, after it
had been fulfilled in the figure it should again be
fulfilled in the letter to one of his posterity. The
prayer is thus expressed with authority, because it
was not an ordinary prayer, such as is directed and
supported only by God’s common providence or
promise, but the prayer of a prophet at this time
divinely inspired for this purpose; and yet it inti¬
mates to us the prevalency of prayer in general, so
Ear as it is regulated by the word of God, and may
remind us of that honour put upon prayer, Isa. 45.
11, Concerning the work of my hands, command ye
me. He bids the sun stand still upon Gibeon, the
place of action and the seat of the war, intimating
that what he designed in this request, was, the ad¬
vantage of Israel against their enemies; it is proba¬
ble that the sun was now declining, and that he did
not call for the lengthening out of the day, until he
observed it hastening toward its period. He does
likewise, in the name of the King of kings, arrest
the moon, perhaps because it was requisite for the
preserving of the harmony and good order of the
spheres, that the course of the rest of the heavenly
bodies should be stayed likewise, otherwise, while
the sun shone, he needed not the moon; and here
he mentions the valley of Ajalon, which was near
to Gibeon, because there he was at that time.
Secondly, It was bold indeed to say so before Is¬
rael, and argues a very strong assurance of faith.
If the event had not answered the demand, nothing
could have been a greater slur upon him; the Israel¬
ites would have concluded he was certai .ly going
mad, or he had never talked so extravagantly. But
he knew very well God would own and answer *a
petition which he himself directed to be drawn up
and presented, and therefore was not afraid to say
before all Israel, calling them to observe ‘this work
of wonder Sun, stand thou still, for he was confi¬
dent in him whom he had trusted. He believed
the almighty power of God; else he could not have
expected that the sun, going on in its strength,
driving in a full career, and rejoicing as a strong .
man to run a race, should be stopped in an instant.
He believed the sovereignty of God in the kingdom
of nature; else he could not have expected that the
established law and course of nature should be
changed and interrupted, the ordinances of heaven,
and the constant usage according to these ordi¬
nances, broken in upon. And he belie\ed God’s
particular favour to Israel above all people under
the sun; else he could not have expected, that, to
favour them upon an emergency with a double day,
he should (which must follow of course) amuse and
terrify so great a part of the terrestrial globe with
a double night at the same time; it is true, he
causeth the sun to shine upon the just and the un¬
just, but this once the unjust shall wait f<tr it be¬
yond the usual time, while, in favour to righteous
Israel, it stands still.
(2.) The wonderful answer to this prayer. No
sooner said than done, v. 13, The sun stood still,
and the moon stayed. Notwithstanding the vast
distance between the earth and the sun, at the
word of Joshua, the sun stopped immediately; for
the same God that rules in heaven above, rules at
the same time on this earth, and, when he pleases,
even the heavens shall hear the earth, as here. Con¬
cerning this great miracle, it is here said, [1.] That
it continued a whole day, that is, the sun continued
as long again above the horizon, as otherwise it
would have done. It is commonly supposed to
have been about the middle of summer that this
happened, when, in that country, it was about four¬
teen hours between sun and sun, so that this day
was about twenty-eight hours long; yet if we sup¬
pose it to have been at that time of the year when
the days are at the shortest, it will be the more
probable that Joshua should desire and pray for the
prolonging of the day. [2.] That hereby the peo¬
ple had full time to avenge themselves of their ene¬
mies, and to give them a total defeat. We often
read in history of battles which the night put an end
to, the shadows of which favoured the retreat of
the conquered; to prevent this advantage to the
enemy in their flight, the day was doubled, that the
hand of Israel might find out all their enemies; but
the eye and hand of Gcd can find them out without
the help of the sun’s light, for to him the night
shineth as the day, Ps. 139. 12. Note, Sometimes
God completes a great salvation in a little time, and
makes but one day’s work of it. Perhaps this
miracle is alluded to, Zech. 14. 6, 7. where the day
of God’s fighting against the nations is said to be
one day, and that at evening-time it shall be light,
as here. And, [3.] That there was never any day
like it, before or since, in which God put such an
honour upon faith and prayer, and Israel’s cause;
never did he so wonderfully comply with the re¬
quest of a man, or so wonderfully fight for his peo¬
ple. [4.] This is said to be written in the book of
Jasher, a collection of state-poems, in which the
poem made upon this occasion was preserved
among the rest; probably, the same with that book
of the wars of the Lord, Numb. 21. 14. which af¬
terward wras continued and carried on by one
Jasher. Those words, Sun, stand thou still upon
Gibeon, and thou moon, in the valley of yljalon,
sounding metrical, are supposed to be taken from
the narrative of this event, as it was found in the
book of Jasher. Not that the divine testimony of
the book of Joshua needed any confirmation from
the book of Jasher, a human composition: but to
those who had that book in their hands, it would be
of use to compare this history with it; which war
rants the appeals the learned make to profane his-
56
JOSHUA, X.
lory for ' corroborating the proofs of the truth of
sacred history.
But surely this stupendous miracle of the stand-
• ing still of the sun, was intended for something
more than merely to give Israel so much the more
time to find out and kill their enemies, which, with¬
out this, might have, been done the next day.
First, God would hereby magnify Joshua, ch. 3. 7.
as a particular favourite, and one whom he did de¬
light to honour; being a type of Him who has all
power both in heaven and in earth, and whom the
winds and the seas obey. Secondly, He would
hereby notify to all the world what he was doing
for his people Israel here in Canaan; the sun, the
eye of the world, must be fixed for some hours
upon Gibeon, and the valley of Ajalon, as if to con¬
template the great works of God there for Israel,
and so t^o engage the children of men to look that
way, and to inquire of this %vonder done in the land,
(2 Chron. 32. 31.) Proclamation was hereby made
to all the neighbouring nations, Come, behold the
works of the Lord, Ps. 46. 8. and say, “ What na¬
tion is there so great as Israel is, who has God so
nigh unto them? One would have supposed this
would have brought such real ambassadors as the
Gibeonites pretended to be, from a very far coun¬
try, to court the friendship of Israel because of the
name of the Lord their God. Thirdly, He would
hereby convince and confound those idolaters that
worshipped the sun and moon, and gave divine
honour to them, by demonstrating that they were
subject to the command of the God of Israel, and
that, as high as they were, he was above them; and
thus he would fortify his people against the temp¬
tations to this idolatry, which he foresaw they
would be addicted to, (Deut. 4. 19.) and which,
notwithstanding this, they afterward corrupted
themselves with. Fourthly, This miracle signified
(it is the learned Bishop Pierson’s notion) that in the
latter days, when the light of the world was tending
towards a night of darkness, the Sun of righteous¬
ness, even our Joshua, should arise, (Mai. 4. 2.)
give check to the approaching night, and be the
true light. To which let me add, that when Christ
conquered our spiritual enemies upon the cross, the
miracle wrought upon the sun was the reverse of
this, it was then darkened as if it were gone down
at noon, for Christ needed not the light of the sun
to carry on his victories, he then made dark¬
ness his pavilion: and lastly, the arresting of the
sun and moon in this day of battle, figured the turn¬
ing of the sun into darkness, and the moon iftto
blood, in the last great and terrible day of the Lord.
1 5. And Joshua returned, and all Israel
with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. 16.
But these five kings fled, and hid themselves
in a cave at Makkedah. 17. And it was
told Joshua, saying, The five kings are
found hid in a cave at Makkedah. 18.
And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the
mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to
keep them: 19. And stay you not, but
pursue after your enemies, and smite the
hindmost of them ; suffer them not to enter
into their cities: for the Lord your God
hath delivered them into your hand. 20.
And it came to pass, when Joshua and the
children of Israel had made an end of slay¬
ing them with a very great slaughter, till
they were consumed, that the rest which
remained of them entered into fenced cities.
21. And all the people returned to the
camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace :
none moved his tongue against any of the
children of Israel. 22. Then said Joshua,
Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out
those five kings unto me out of the cave.
23. And they did so, and brought forth
those five kings unto him out of the cave,
the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron,
the king of Jarmuth, the king of Ijachish,
and the king of Eglon. 24. And it came
to pass, when they brought out those kings
unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the
men of Israel, and said unto the captains
of the men of war which went with him,
Come near, put your feet upon the necks
of these kings. And they came near, and
put their feet upon the necks of them. 25.
And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor
be dismayed, be strong and of good cou¬
rage : for thus shall the Lord do to all your
enemies against whom ye fight. 26. And
afterward Joshua smote them, and slew
them, and hanged them on five trees : and
they were hanged upon the trees until the
evening. 27. And it came to pass at the time
of the going down of the sun ,that Joshua com¬
manded, and they took them down off the
.trees, and cast them into the cave wherein
they had been hid, and laid great stones in
the cave’s mouth, which remain until this
very day.
It was a brave appearance, no doubt, which the
five kings made when they took the field, for the
reducing of Gibeon, and a brave army they had fol¬
lowing them; but they were all routed, put into
disorder first, and then brought to destruction, by
the hail-stones. And now Joshua thought, his
work being done, he might go with his army into
quarters' of refreshment: accordingly it was resolv¬
ed, perhaps in a council of war, that they should
presently return to the camp, to Gilgal, v. 15. till
they should receive orders from God to take pos¬
session of the country they had pow conquered; but
he soon finds he has more work cut out for him,
the victory must be pursued, that the spoils might
be divided. Accordingly he applies himself to it
with renewed vigour.
I. The force that had dispersed themselves, must
be folloAved and smitten. When tidings are brought
to Joshua where the kings were, lie ordered a guard
to be set upon them for the present, v. 18. reserv¬
ing them for another day of destruction, and to be
brought forth to a day of wrath, Job 21. 30. He
directs his men to pursue the common soldiers, as
much as might be, to prevent their escaping to the
garrisons, which would strengthen them, and make
the reduction of them the more difficult, v. 19.
Like a prudent general, he does that first, which is
most needful, and defers his triumphs till he has
completed his conquests; nor was he in such haste
to insult over the captive kings, but that he would
first prevent the rallying again of their scattered
forces. The success of this vigorous pursuit, was,
1. That a very great slaughter was made of the
enemies of God and Israel. And, 2. The field was
cleared of them, so that none remained but such as
57
JOSHUA, X.
got into fenced cities, where they would not long be
safe themselves, nor were they capable of doing any
service to the cities that sheltered them, unless
they could have left their fears behind them. 3.
J\'one moved his toiigue against any of the children
of Israel, v. 21. This expression intimates, (1.)
Their perfect safety and tranquillity: some think it
should be read, from Exod. 11. 7, Against any of
the children of Israel did not a dog move his tongue;
no, not against any one man of them. They were
not threatened by any danger at all after their vic¬
tory, no, not so much as the barking of a dog. Not
one single Israelite (for the original makes it so
particular) was brought into any distress, either in
the battle, or in the pursuit. (2.) Their honour
and reputation; no man had any reproach to cast
upon them, or an ill word to give them. God not
only tied the hands, but stopped the mouths of their
enraged enemies, and put lying lips to silence. (3. )
The Chaldee paraphrase makes it an expression of
their unallayed joy for this victory, reading it,
There was no hurt or loss to the children of Israel,
for which any man should afflict his soul. When
the army came to be reviewed after the battle,
there was none slain, none wounded, none missing,
not one Israelite had occasion to lament either the
loss of a friend, or the loss of a limb. So cheap, so
easy, so glorious, was this victory.
If. The kings that had hidden themselves, must
now be called to an account, as rebels against the
Israel of God, to whom, by the divine promise and
grant, this land did of right belong, and should have
been surrendered upon demand.
See here, 1. How they were secured. The cave
which they fled to, and trusted in for a refuge, be¬
came their prison, in which they were clapped up,
till Joshua sat in judgment on them, v. 18. It seems,
they all escaped both the hail-stones and the sword,
God so ordering it, not in kindness to them, but that
they might be reserved for a more solemn and ter¬
rible execution; as, for this cause, Pharaoh survived
the plagues of Egypt, and was made to stand, that
God might in him show his /lower, Exod. 9. 16.
They all fled, and met at the same place, Provi¬
dence directing them; and now they who were
lately consulting against Israel, were put upon new
counsels to preserve themselves, and agreed to take
shelter in the same cave. The information brought
to Joshua of this, is an evidence that there' were
those of the country, who knew the holes and fast¬
nesses of it, that were in his interests. And the care
Joshua took to keep them there when they were
there, as it is an instance of his policy and presence
of mind, even in the heat of action; so, in the suc¬
cess of their project, it shows how they not only
deceive themselves, but destroy themselves, who
think to hide themselves from God. Their refuge
of lies will but bind them over to God’s judgment.
2. How they were triumphed over. Joshua or¬
dered them to be brought forth out of the cave, set
before him at the bar, and their names called over,
v. 22, 23. And when they either were bound and
cast upon the ground, unable to help themselves,
or throw themselves upon the ground, humbly to
beg for their lives, he called for the general officers
and great men, and commanded them to trample
upon these kings, and set their feet upon their
necks; not in sport, and to make themselves and
the company merry, but with the gravity and deco¬
rum that became the ministers of the divine justice,
who were not herein to gratify any pride or passion
of their own, but to give glory to the God of Israel
as higher than the highest, who treads ufion jxrinces
as mortar, (Isa. 41. 25.) and is terrible to the kings
of the earth, Ps. 76. 12. The thing does indeed
look barbarous, thus to insult over men in misery,
that were suddenly fallen from the highest pitch of
Vol. II.— H
honour into this disgrace; it was hard for crowned
heads to be thus trodden upon, not by Joshua him¬
self, (that might better have been borne,) at least
not by him only, but by all the captains of the army;
certainly it ought not to be drawn into a precedent,
for the case was extraordinary, and we have reason
to think it was by divine direction and impulse that
Joshua did this. (1. ) God would hereby punish the
abominable wickedness of these kings, the measure
of whose iniquity was now full. And by this public
act of justice done upon these ringleaders of the
Canaanites in sin, he would possess his people with
the greater dread and detestation of those sins of
the nations that God cast out from before them,
which they would be tempted tb imitate. (2.) He
would hereby have the promise by Moses made
good, (Deut. 33. 29.) Thou slialt tread u/ion their
high places, that is, their great men, which should
the rather be speedily fulfilled in the letter, because
they are the very last words of Moses that we find
upon record. (3.) He would hereby encourage the
faith and hope of his people Israel, in reference to
the wars that were yet before them. Therefore
Joshua said, v. 25, Fear not, nor be dismayed. [1.]
“ Fear not these kings, or any of their’s, as if there
were any danger of having this affront now put upon
them, in after-time revenged upon yourselves; a
consideration which keeps many from being inso¬
lent toward those they have at their mercy, because
they know not how soon the uncertain fate of war
may turn the same wheel upon themselves; but you
need not fear that any should rise up ever to re¬
venge this quarrel.” [2.] “Fear net any other
kings, who may at any time be in confederacy
against you, for you see these brought down, whom
you thought formidable. Thus shall the Lord do
to all your enemies; now that they begin to fall, to
fall so low, that you may set your feet on their
necks, you may be confident they shall not prevail,
but shall surely fall before you," Esth. 6. 13. (4.)
He would hereby give a type and figure of Christ’s
victories over the powers of darkness, and believers’
victories through him. All the enemies of the Re¬
deemer shall be made his footstool, Ps. 110. 1.
(And, see Ps. 18. 40.) The kings of the earth set
themselves against him, Ps. 2. 2. but sooner or
later we shall see all things put under him, Heb. 2.
,8. and principalities and powers made a show of,
Col. 2. 15. And in these triumphs we are more
than conquerors, may tread upon the lion and adder,
Ps. 91. 13. may ride on the high places of the earth,
Isa. 58. 14. and may be confident that the God of
peace shall tread Satan under our feet, shall do it
shortly, and do it effectually, Rom. 16. 20. See
Ps. 149. 8, 9.
3. How they were put to death. Perhaps when
they had undergone that terrible mortification of be¬
ing trodden upon bv the captains of Israel, they
were ready to say, as Agag, Surely the bitterness
of death is past, and that sufficient unto them was
this punishment which was inflicted by many; but
their honours cannot excuse their lives, their for¬
feited, devoted lives. Joshua smote them with the
sword, and then hanged up their bodies till evening,
when they were taken down, and thrown into the
cave in which they had hid themselves, v. 26, 27.
That which they thought would have been their
shelter, was made their prison first, and then their
grave; so shall we be disappointed in that which we
flee to from God, yet to good people the grave is
still a hiding-place, Job. i4. 13. If these five kings
had humbled themselves in time, and had begged
peace instead of waging war, they might have sav¬
ed tfieir lives; but now the decree was gone forth,
and th ev found no place for repentance, or the re¬
versal of the judgment, it was too late to expect it,
though, perhaps, they sought it carefully with tears.
68 JOSHUA, X.
28. And that clay Joshua took Makke-
dah, and smote it with the edge of the
sword, and the king thereof he utterly de¬
stroyed, them, and all the souls that were
therein ; he let none remain : and he did to
the king of Makkedah as he did unto the
king of Jericho. 29. Then Joshua passed
from Maickedah, and all Israel with him,
unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah :
30 And the Lord delivered it also, and the
king thereof, into the hand of Israel ; and he
smote it with the edge of the sword, and all
the souls that were therein; he let none re¬
main in it ; but did unto the king thereof as
he did unto the king of Jericho. 31. And
Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel
with him, unto Lachish, and encamped
against it, and fought against it: 32. And
the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand
of Israel, which took it on the second day,
and smote it with the edge of the sword,
and all the souls that irere therein, accord¬
ing to all that he had done to Libnah. 33.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to
help Lachish ; and Joshua smote him and
his people, until he had left him none re¬
maining. 34. And from Lachish Joshua
passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him;
and they encamped against it, and fought
against it: 35. And they took it on that
day, and smote it with the edge of the
sword ; and all the souls that were therein
he utterly destroyed that day, according to
all that he had done to Lachish. 36. And
Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel
with him, unto Hebron ; and they fought
against it : 37. And they took it, and smote
it with the edge of the sword, and the king
thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the
souls that were therein ; he left none remain¬
ing, according to all that he had done to
Eglon ; but destroyed it utterly, and all the
souls that were therein. 38. And Joshua
returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir,
and fought against it : 39. And he took it,
and the king thereof, and all the cities
thereof; and they smote them with the edge
of the.sword, and utterly destroyed all the
souls that ivere therein ; he left none remain¬
ing: as he had done to Hebron, so he did
to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had
done also to Libnah, and to her king. 40.
So Joshua s note all the country of the hills,
and of the south, and of the vale, and of the
springs, and all their kings: he left none
remaining, but utterly destroyed all that
breathed, as the Lord God of Israel com¬
manded. 41. And Joshua smote them from
Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the
country of Goshen even unto Gibeon 42.
And all these kings and their land did Josh¬
ua take at one time, because the Lord
God of Israel fought for Israel. 43. And
Joshua returned, and all Israel with him,
unto the camp to Gilgal.
We have here Joshua’s improvement of the late
glorious victory he had obtained, and the advan¬
tages he had gained by it, and to do this well is
a general’s praise.
I. Here is a particular account of the several
cities which he immediately made himself mastei
of. 1. The cities of three' of the kings whom lit
had conquered in the field, he went and took pos¬
session of, Lachish, v. 31, 32. Eglon, v. 34, 35. and
Hebron, v. 36, 37. The other two, Jerusalem and
Jarmuth, were not taken at this time; perhaps his
forces were either so much fatigued with what they
had done, or so well content with what they had
got, that they had no mind to attack those places,
and so they slipped the fairest opportunity they
could ever expect of reducing them with ease,
which afterward was not done without difficulty,
Judg. 1. 1. 2 Sam. 5. 6. 2. Three other cities, and
royal cities too, he took; Makkedah, into the neigh¬
bourhood of which the five kings were fled, which
brought Joshua and his forces thither in pursuit of
them, and so hastened its ruin, v. 28. Libnah, v. 29,
30. and Debir, v. 38, 39. 3. One king that brought
in his forces for the relief of Lachish, that had iost
its king, proved to meddle to his own hurt; it was
Horam king of Gezer, who, either in friendship to
his neighbours, or for his own security, offered to
stop the progress of Joshua’s arms, and was cut off
with all his forces, v. 33. Thus wicked men are
often snared in their counsels, and, by opposing God
in the way of his judgments, bring them the sooner
on their own heads.
II. A general account of the country which was
hereby reduced and brought into Israel’s hands, v .
40--42. The part of the land of Canaan winch
they first got possession of lay south of Jerusalem,
and afterward fell, for the most part, to the lot of
the tribe of Judah.
Observe in this narrative, 1. The great speed
Joshua made in taking these cities, which, some
think, is intimated in the manner of relating it,
which is quick and concise. He flew like lightning
from place to place; and though they all stood it out
to the last extremity, and none of these cities open¬
ed their gates to him, yet in a little time he got
them all into his hands, summoned them, and
seized them, the same day, v. 28. or in two days, v .
32. Now that they were struck with fear by the
defeat of their armies, and the death of their kings,
Joshua prudently followed his blow. See what a
great deal of work may be done in a little time, if
we will but be busy, and improve our opportunities.
2. The great severity Joshua used toward those he
conquered. He gave no quarter to man, woman,
or child, put to the sword all the souls, v. 28, 30,
32, 35, &c. utterly destroyed all that breathed, v.
40. and left none remaining. Nothing could justify
this militarv execution, but that herein they did as
the Lord God of Israel commanded, v. 40. which
was sufficient not only to bear them out, and save
them from the imputation of cruelty, but to sanctify
what they did, and make it an acceptable piece of
service to his justice. God would hereby, (1.)
Manifest his hatred of the idolatries, and other
abominations, which the Canaanites had been
guilty of, and leave us to judge how great the pro¬
vocation was, which they had given him, by the
greatness of the destruction which was brought
upon them when the measure of their iniquity was
full. (2.) He would hereby magnify nis love to his
59
JOSHUA, XL
people Israel, in giving so many men for them,
and fieofile for their life, Isa. -13. 4. when the hea¬
then are to be cast out to make room for this vine,
(Ps. 80. 8.) Divine justice appears more prodigal
than ever of human blood, that the Israelites might
find themselves for ever obliged to spend their
lives to the glory of that God, who had sacrificed
so many of the lives of his creatures to their inter¬
est. (3.) Hereby was typified the final and eternal
destruction of all the impenitent implacable enemies
of the Lord Jesus, who having slighted the riches
of his grace, must for ever feel the weight of his
wrath; and shall have judgment without mercy.
Nations that forget God, shall be turned into hell,
and no reproach at all to God’s infinite goodness.
3. Lhe great success of this expedition. The spoil
of these cities was now divided among the men of
war that plundered them; and the cities themselves,
with the land about them, were shortly to be di¬
vided among the tribes, for the Lord fought for
Israel, v. 42. They could not have gotten the vic¬
tory, if God had not undertaken the battfe; then we
conquer when God fights for us; and if he be for
us, who can be against us?
CHAP. XI.
This chapter continues and concludes the history of the
conquest of Canaan ; of the reduction of the southern
parts we had an account in the foregoing chapter ; after
which we may suppose Joshua allowed his forces some
breathing-time ; now here we have the story of the war
in the north, and the happy success of that war. I. The
confederacy of the northern crowns against Israel, v.
4 . . 5. II. The encouragement wluch God gave to
Joshua to engage them, v. 6. Ill.^iis victory over
them, v. 7 . . 9. IV. The taking of their cities, v. 10 . .
15. V. The destruction of the Anakims, v. 21, 22. VI.
The general conclusion of the story of this war, 16 . .
20, 23.
I. 4 ND it came to pass, when Jabin king;
zJL of Hazor had heard those things ,
that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and
to the king of Shimron, and to the king of
Achshaph, 2. And to the kings that were
on the north of the mountains, and of the
plains south ofChinneroth, and in the valley,
and in the borders of Dor on the west,
3. And to the Canaanite on the east and
on the west, and to the Amorite, and the
Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite
in the mountains, and to the Hivite under
Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh. 4. And
they went out, they and all their hosts with
them, much people, even as the sand that
is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with
horses and chariots very many. 5. And
when all these kings were met together,
they came and pitched together at the
waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
6. And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not
afraid because of them: for to-morrow
about this time will I deliver them up all
slain before Israel : thou shalt hough their
horses, and burn their chariots with fire. 7.
So Joshua came, and all the people of war
with him, against them by the waters of
Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
8. And the Lord delivered them into the
hand of Israel, who smote them, and
chased them unto great Zidon, and unto
Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of
Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them,
until they left them none remaining. 9.
And Joshua did unto them as the Lord
bade him : he houghed their horses, and
burnt their chariots with fire.
We are here entering upon the story cf another
campaign that Joshua made, and it was a glorious
one, no less illustrious than the former in the suc¬
cess of it, though in respect of miracles, it was in¬
ferior to it in glory. The wonders God then
wrought for them, were to initiate and encourage
them to act vigorously themselves. Thu the war
carried on by the preaching of the Gospel against
Satan’s kingdom, was at first forwarded by mira¬
cles; but the war being by them sufficiently proved
to be of God, the managers of it are now left to the
ordinary assistance of divine grace in the use cf the
sword of the Spirit, and must not expect hail¬
stones, or the standing still of the sun.
In this story we have,
I. The Canaanites taking the field against Israel.
Thev were the aggressors, God hardening their
he rts to begin the war, that Israel might be justi¬
fied beyond exception in destroying them. Joshua
and all Israel were returned to the camp at Gilgal,
and perhaps these kings knew no other than that
they intended to sit down content with the conquest
they had already made, and yet they prepare war
against them. Note, Sinners bring ruin upon their
own heads, so that God will be justified when he
sfieaks, and they alone shall bare the blame for
e er. Judah was now couched as a lion gone ufi
from the firey; if the northern kings rouse him up,
it is at their peril, Gen. 49. 9. Now,
I. Several nations joined in this confederacy,
seme in the mountains, and some in the plains, v.
2. Canaanites from east and west, Amorites, Hit-
tites, Perizzites, £cc. v. 3. of different constitutions,
and divided interests among themselves, and yet
they here unite against Israel, as against a common
enemy. Thus are the children of this world more
unanimous, and therein wiser, than the children of
light. The oneness of the church’s enemies should
shame the church’s friends out of their discords and
divisions, and engage them to be one. 2. The head
of this confederacy was Jabin king of Hazor, v. 1.
as Adoni-zedek was of the former; it is said, v. 10.
Hazor had been the head of all those kingdorns,
which could not have revolted, without occasioning
ill-will; but that was forgotten and laid aside upon
this occasion, by consent of parties, (Luke 23. 12.)
When they had all drawn up their forces together,
every kingdom bringing in its quota, they were a
very great army, much greater than the former, as
the sand on the sea-shore in multitude, and, upon
this account, much stronger and more formidable,
that they had horses and chariots very many, which
we do not find the southern kings had; thereby they
had a great advantage against Israel, for their army
consisted only of foot, and they never brought
horses or chariots into the field. Josephus tells us,
that the army of the Canaanites consisted of three
hundred thousand foot, ten thousand horse, and
twenty thousand chariots. Many there be tha rise
ufi against God’s Israel; doubtless their nui ibers
made them very confident of success, but it proved
that so much the greater slaughter was made of
them.
II. The encouragement God gave to Joshua to
give them the meeting, even upon the ground of
their own choosing, v. 6, Be not afraid because oj
thein. Joshua was remarkable for his courage, it
60
JOSHUA, XI.
was his master-grace, and yet it seems, he had need i
to be again and again cautioned not to be afraid. |
Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to
fetch in fresh supports and comforts from the word ■
of God, which we have always nigh unto us, to be
made use of in every time of need. Those that
ha\ e God on their side, need not be disturbed at the
number and power of their enemies; more are they
that are with us, than they that are against us; they
ha* e the hosts of the Lord, that have the Lord of
hosts engaged for them. For his encouragement,
1. God assures him ot success, and fixes the hour;
T j-morrow about this time, when an engagement
(it is probable) was expected and designed on both
sides, I will deliver them u/i slain. Though they
were to be slain by the sword of Israel, yet it is
spoken of as God’s work, that he would deliver
them up. 2. He appoints him to hough their
horses, hamstring them, lame them, and burn their
chariots, not only that Israel might not use them
hereafter, but that they might not fear them now,
their God designing this contempt to be put upon
them. Let Israel look upon their chariots but as
rotten wood designed for the fire, and their horses
of war as disabled things, scarcely good enough for \
the cart.
This encouragement which God here gave to
Joshua, no doubt, he communicated to the people, |
who perhaps were under some apprehensions of I
danger from this vast army, notwithstanding the |
experiences they had had of God’s power engaged
for them. And'the wisdom and goodness of God is
to be observed, (1.) In infatuating the counsels of
the enemy, that all the kings of Canaan, who were
not dispersed at such a distance from each other,
but that they might have got altogether in a bodv,
did not at first confederate against Israel, but were
divided into the southern and northern comb’nation,
and so became less formidable. And, (2.) In pre¬
paring his people to encounter the greater force, by
breaking the less. They first engage with five
kings together, and now with many more. God
propoitions our trials to our strength, and our
strength to our trials.
III. J shua’s march against these confederate
forces, v. 7, He came u/ion them suddenly, and
surprised them in their quarters. He made this i
haste, 1. That he might put them into the greater j
confusion, by giving them an alarm, when they 1
l^tle thought lie had been near them. 2. That lie
might be sure not to come short of the honour God j
had fixed, to give him the meeting at the enemy’s
camp, to-morrow about this time. It is fit we
should keep time with God.
IV. His success, v. 8. He obtained the honour
and advantage of a complete victory; he smote
than and chased them, in the several ways they
t > ik in their flight; some fled toward Zidon, which
l.y to the north-west, others toward Mizpeh, east¬
ward, both the parties Joshua sent out, pursued
them each way. So the Lord delivered them into
the hand of Israel-, they would not deliver them¬
selves into the hands of Israel to be made proselytes
and tributaries, and so offered up to God’s grace,
Rom. 15. 16. and therefore God delivered them
into their hands to be made sacrifices to his justice;
for God will be honoured by us or upon us.
V. His obedience to the orders given him, in
destroying the horses and chariots, v. 9. which was
an instance, 1. Of his subjection to the divine will,
as one under authority, that must do as he is bid¬
den. 2. Of his self-denial, and crossing his own
genius and inclination in compliance with God’s
command. 3. Of his confidence in the power of
God engaged for Israel, which enabled them to
despise the chariots and horses which others trusted
in, rs. 20. 7. — 33. 17. 4. Of his care to keep up in
the people the like confidence in God, by taking
that from them, which they would be tempted te
trust too much to. This was cutting off a right
hand.
10. And Joshua at that time turned back,
and took Hazor, and smote the king there¬
of with the sword: for Hazor beforetime
was the head of all those kingdoms. 1 1 .
And they smote all the souls that were
therein with the edge of the sword, utterly
destroying them : there was not any left to
breathe : and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12. And all the cities of those kings, and
all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and
smote them with the edge of the sword ;
and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the
servant of the Lord commanded. 13.
But as for the cities that stood still in theii
strength, Israel burned none of them, save
Hazor only ; that did Joshua burn. 1 4.
And all the spoil of these cities, and the
cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey
unto themselves ; but every man they smote
with the edge of the sword, until they had
destroyed them, neither left they any to
breathe.
We have here the same improvement made of
this victory, that was of that in the foregoing chap¬
ter.
1. The destruction of Hazor is particulai lv re¬
corded, because in it, and by the king thereof, this
daring design against Israel was laid, v. 10, 11.
The king of Hazor, it seems, escaped with his life
out of the battle, and thought himself safe when he
was got back into his own city, and Joshua was gone
in pursuit of the scattered troops another way; but
it proved that that which he thought would have
been for his welfare, was his trap, in it he was taken
as in an evil net, there he was slain, and his city,
for his sake, burnt. Yet we find that the remains
of it being not well-looked after by Israel, the Ca-
naanites rebuilt it, and settled there under another
king of the same name, Judg. 4. 2.
2. The rest of the cities of that part of the coun¬
try are spoken of only in general; that Joshua got
them all into his hands, but did not burn them as he
did Hazor, for Israel was to dwell in great and
goodly cities which they builded not, Deut. 6. 10. and
in these among the rest. And here we find Israel
rolling in blood and treasure. (1.) In the blood of
their enemies; they smote all the souls, v. 11.
neither left they any to breathe, v. 14. that there
might be none to infect them with the abominations
of Canaan, and none to disturb them in the possess¬
ion of it. The children were cut off, lest they
should afterward lay claim to any part of this land
in the right of their parents. (2.) In the wealth
of their enemies: the spoil, and the cattle, they took
for a prey to themselves, v. 14. As they were en¬
riched with the spoil of their oppressors when they
came out of Egypt, wherewith to defray the
charges of their apprenticeship in the wilderness;
so they were now enriched with the spoil of their
enemies, for a stock wherewith to set up in the land
of Canaan. Thus is the wealth of the sinner laid
up for the just.
15. As the Lord commanded Moses nis
servant, so did Moses command Joshua,
61
JOSHUA, XL
and so did Joshua ; he left nothing undone
of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
16. So Joshua took all that land, the hills,
and all the south country, and all the land
of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain,
and the mountain of Israel, and the valley
of the same; 17. Even from the mount
Halak, that goeth up to Seir, unto Baal-
gad, in the valley of Lebanon, unto mount
Hermon : and all their kings he took, and
smote them, and slew them. 1 8. Joshua
made war a long time with all those kings.
19. There was not a city that made peace
with the children of Israel, save the Hivites/
the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they
took in battle. 20. For it was of the Lord
to harden their hearts, that they should
come against Israel in battle, that he
might destroy them utterly, and that they
might have no favour, but that he might
destroy them, as the Lord commanded
Moses. 21. And at that time came Josh¬
ua, and cut off the Anakims from the
mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from
Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah,
and from all the mountains of Israel : Josh¬
ua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
22. There was none of the Anakims left
in the land of the children of Israel : only
in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there re-
Fiained. 23. So Joshua took the whole
land, according to all that the Lord said
unto Moses ; and Joshua gave it for an in¬
heritance unto Israel, according to their di¬
visions by their tribes. And the land rest¬
ed from war.
We have here the conclusion of this whole mat¬
ter.
I. A short account is here given of what was done
in four things,
1. The obstinacy of the Canaanites in their oppo-
s'tion to the Israelites. It was strange, that though
it appeared so manifestly that God fought for Israel,
and in every engagement the Canaanites had the
worst of it, yet they stood it out to the last; not one
city made peace with Israel, but the Gibeonites
only, who understood the things that belonged
to their peace better than their neighbours, z>.
19. It is intimated that other cities might have
made as good terms for themselves, without rag¬
ged clothes and clouted shoes, if they would
have humbled themselves, but they never so much
as desired conditions of peace. We are told whence
this unaccountable infatuation came, It was of the
Lord to harden their hearts , v. 20. As Pharaoh’s
heart was hardened by his own pride and wilfulness
first, and afterward by the righteous judgment of
God, to his destruction, so were the hearts of these
Canaanites. To punish them for all their other
follies, God left them to this, to make those their
enemies, whom they might have made their friends.
This was it that ruined them, they came against
Israel in battle , and gave the first blow, and there-
f re might have no favour showed them. Those
kn o\y not what they do, who give the provocation to
di. inc 'justice, or the authorised instruments of it. j
Are we stronger than God? Observe here, that
hardness of heart is the ruin of sinners. Those
that are stupid and secure, and heedless of divine
warnings, are already marked for destruction.
What hope is there "of those concerning whom
God has said, Go, male their hearts fat?
2. The constancy of the Israelites in prosecuting
this war, v. 18. Joshua made war a long time;
some reckon it five years, others seven, that were
spent in subduing this land. So long God would
train up Israel to war, and give them repeated in¬
stances of his power and goodness in e\ ery new vic¬
tory that he gave them.
3. The conquest of the Anakims at last, v. 21,
22. Either this was done, as they met with them
where they were dispersed, as seme think, or ra¬
ther, it should seem the Anakims were retired to
their fastnesses, and so were hunted out, and cut off
at last, after all the rest < f their enemies. The
mountains of Judah and Israel were the habitations
of those mountains of men; but neither their height,
nor the strength of their caves, nor the difficulty of
the passes to them, could secure, no, not these
mighty men from the sword of Joshua. The cutting
off of the sons of Anak is particularly mentioned,
because these had been such a terror to the spies
forty years before, and their bulk and strength had
been thought an insuperable difficulty in the way of
the reducing of Canaan, Numb. 13. 28, 33. Even
that opposition which seemed invincible, was got
over. Never let the sons of Anak be a terror to the
Israel of God, for even their day will come, to fall.
Giants are dwarfs to Omnipotence; yet this strug¬
gle with the Anakims was reser ed for the latter
end of the war, when the Israelites were become
more expert in the arts of war, and had had more ex¬
perience of the power and goodness of God. Note,
God sometimes reserves the sharpest trials of his
people by affliction and temptation for the latter end
of their days. Therefore let not him that girds on
the harness, boast as he that puts it off. Death,
that tremendous son of Anak, is the last enemy
that is to be encountered, but it is to be destroyed,
1 Cor. 15. 26. Thanks be to God, who will give
us the victory.
4. The end and issue of this long war. The Ca¬
naanites were rooted out, (not perfectly, as we shall
find after in the book of Judges,) but in a good mea¬
sure; they were not able to make any head, either,
(1.) So as to keep the Israelites out of possess¬
ion of the land, Joshua took all that land, v. 16, 17.
And we may suppose the people dispersed them¬
selves and their families into the countries they had
conquered, at least those that lay nearest to the
head-quarters at Gilgal, until an orderly distribu¬
tion should be made by lot, that every man might
know his own. Or, (2.) So as to keep them in ac¬
tion, or give them any molestation, v. 23, The
land rested from war. It ended not in a peace with
the Canaanites, (that was forbidden,) but in peace
from them. There is a rest, a rest from war, re¬
maining for the people of God, into which they
shall enter, when their warfare is accomplished.
II. That which was now done, is here compared
with that which had been said to Moses. God’s
word and his works, if viewed and considered to¬
gether, will mutually illustrate each other. It is
here observed in the close,
1. That all the precepts God had given to Mo¬
ses relating to the conquest of Canaan, were obeyed
on the people’s part, at least, while Joshua lived.
See how solemnly this is remarked, v. 15, As the
Lord commanded Moses his servant, by whose
hand the law was given, so did Moses command
Joshua, for Moses was faithful, as a lawgiver, to
him that appointed him, he did his part, and then
he died; but were the commands of Moses observ-
62
JOSHUA, XII
ed when he was In his grave? Yes, they were, so
did Joshua, who was, in his place, as faithful, as
Moses in his. He left nothing undone (Heb. he
removed nothing J of all that the Lord commanded
Moses. They that leave their duty undone, do
what they can to remove or make void the com¬
mand of God, by which they are obliged to it; but
Joshua, by performing the precept, confirmed it, as
the expression is, Deut. 27. 26. Joshua was him¬
self a great commander, and yet nothing was more
h's praise than his obedience. They that rule others
at their will, must themselves be ruled by the di¬
vine will, then their power is indeed their honour,
and not otherwise. The pious obedience for which
Joshua is here commended, respects especially the
command to destroy the Canaanites, and to break
down their altars, and burn their images, Deut. 7.
2.. 5. Exod. 23. 24. — 34. 13. Joshua, in his zeal
for the Lord of hosts, spared neither the idols
nor the idolaters. Saul’s disobedience, or ra¬
ther his partial obedience, to the command of
God, for the utter destruction of the Amalekites,
cost him his kingdom. It should seem, Joshua him¬
self gives this account of his most careful and punc¬
tual observance of his orders in the execution of
his commission, that in all respects he had done as
Moses commanded him; and then it intimates that
he had more pleasure and satisfaction in reflecting
upon h:s obedience to the commands of Gcd in all
this war, and valued himself more upon that, than
upon all the gains and triumphs with which he was
enriched and advanced.
2. That all the promises God had given to Mo¬
ses, relating to this conquest, were accomplished on
his part, v. 23. Joshua took the whole land, con¬
quered it, and took possession of it, according to all
that the Lord said unto Moses. God had promised
to drive out the nations before them, Exod. 33. 2.
— 34. 11. and to bring them down, Deut. 9. 3. And
now it was done. There failed not one word of the
promise. Our successes and enjoyments arc then
doubly sweet and comfortable to us, when we see
them flowing to us from the promise; this is accor¬
ding to what the Lord said: as our obedience is
then acceptable to God, when it has an eye to the
precept. And if we make conscience of our duty,
we need not question the performance of the pro¬
mise.
CHAP. XII.
This chapter is a summary of Israel’s conquests, I. Their
conquests under Moses, on the other side Jordan, (for
we now suppose ourselves in Canaan,) eastward, which
we had the history of, Numb. 21. 24, &c. And here the
abridgment of that history, v. 1 . . 6. II. Their con¬
quests under Joshua, on this side Jordan, westward. 1.
The country they reduced, v. 7, 8. 2. The kings they
subdued, thirty-one in all, v. 9 . . 24. And this comes in
here, not only as a conclusion of the history of the wars
of Canaan, (that we might at one view see what they
had got) but as a preface to the history of the dividing of
Canaan, that all that might be put together, which thev
were now to make a distribution of.
l.’^UTOW these are the kings of the land,
In which the children of Israel smote,
and possessed their land on the other side
Jordan, toward the rising of the son; from
the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and
all the plain on the east : 2. Sihon king
of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon,
and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the
bank of the river Arnon, and from the mid¬
dle of the river, and from half Gilead, unto
the river Jabbok, which is the border of the
children of Ammon ; 3. And from the
plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east,
and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt
! sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth ;
and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:
4. And the coast of Og king of Bashan,
which was of the remnant of the giants, that
dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5. And
reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah,
and in all Bashan, unto the border of the
Geshurites, and the Maachathites, and half
Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Hesh¬
bon. 6. Them did Moses the servant of
the Lord and the children of Israel smite :
and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it
for a possession unto the Reubenites, and
Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
Joshua, or whoever else is the historian, before
he comes to sum up the new conquests Israel had
made, in these verses recites their fo: mer conquests
in Moses’s time, under whom they became masters
of the great and potent kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
Note, Fresh mercies must not drown the remem¬
brance of former mercies, nor must the glory cf the
present instruments of good to the church, be suf¬
fered to eclipse and diminish the justrhonour of
those who have gone before them, and who were
the blessings and ornaments of their day. Joshua’s
services and achievements are confessedly great, but
let not those under Moses be overlooked and for¬
gotten, since God was the same who wrought both,
and both put together, proclaim him the alpha and
omega of Israel’s great salvation. Here is,
1. A description of this conquered country, the
measure and bounds of it in general, v. 1, From
the river Arnon in the south, to mount Hermon in
the north. In particular, here is a description of
the kingdom cf Sihon, v. 2, 3. and that of Og, v.
4, 5. Moses had described this country very par¬
ticularly, Deut. 2. 36. — 3. 4, fee. and this descrip¬
tion here agrees with his. King Og is said to dwell
at Ashtaroth and Edrei, v. 4. probably, because
they were both his royal cities, he had palaces in
both, and resided sometimes in one, and sometimes
in the other; one perhaps was his summer-seat,
and the other his winter-seat; but Israel took both
from him, and made one grave to serve him, that
could not be content with one palace.
2. The distribution of this country; Moses as¬
signed it to the two tribes and a half, at their re¬
quest, and divided it among them, v. 6. of which
we have the story at large, Numb. 32. The divi¬
ding of it when it was conquered by Moses, is here
mentioned as an example to Joshua, what he must
do now that he had conquered the country on this
side Jordan. Moses, in his time, gave to one part
of Israel a very rich and fruitful country, but it was
on the outside of Jordan; Joshua gave to all Israel
the holy land, the mountain of God’s sanctuary,
within Jordan: so the law conferred upon some few
of God’s spiritual Israel, external temporal bless¬
ings, w’hich were earnests of good things to
come; but our Lord Jesus, the true Joshua, has
provided for all the children of promise spiritual
blessings, the privileges of the sanctuary, and the
heavenly Canaan. The triumphs and grants of the
Law were glorious, but those of the Gospel far ex¬
ceed in glory.
7. And these are the kings of the coun¬
try which Joshua and the children of Israe’
63
JOSHUA, XIII.
^mote on this side Jordan on the west, from
Haul-gad in the valley of Lebanon even
unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to
Seif; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of
Israel for a possession, according to tlieir
divisions: 8. In the mountains, and in the
valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs,
and in the wilderness, and in the south
country ; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the
Oanaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and
the Jebusites : 9. The king of Jericho,
one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth¬
el, one; 10. The king of Jerusalem, one;
the king of Hebron, one ; 11. The king of
Jarmuth, one ; the king of Lachish, one ;
12. The king of Eglon, one; the king of
Gezer, one ; 1 3. The king of Debir, one ;
the king of Geder, one ; 1 4. The king of
Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15.
The king of Libnah, one ; the king of Adul-
lam, one;- 16. The king of Makkedah,
one; the king of Beth-el, one; 17. The
king of Tappuah, one ; the king of He-
pher, one; 18. The king of Aphek, one;
the king of Lasharon, one; 19. The king
of Madon, one ; the king of Hazor, one ;
20. The king of Shimron-meron, one ; the
king of Achshaph, one; 21. The king of
Taanach, one ; the king of Megiddo, one;
22. The king of Kedesh, one ; the king of
Jokneam of Carmel, one ; 23. The king
of Dor in the coast of Dor, one ; the king
of the nations of Gilgal, one ; 24. The king
of Tirzah, one: All the kings thirty and one.
We have here a breviate of Joshua’s conquests.
I. The limits of the country he conquered; it lay
between Jordan on the east, and the Mediterranean
sea on the west, and extended from Baal-gad near
Lebanon in the north, to Halak, which lay upon
the country of Edom in the south, v. 7. The
boundaries are more largely described, Numb. 34. !
2, 8cc. this only is enough to show that God had
been as good as his word, and had given them pos¬
session of all he had promised them by Moses, if
they would but have kept it.
II. The various kinds of land that were found in
this country, which contributed both to its pleasant¬
ness and to its fruitfulness, v. 8. There were
mountains, not craggy and rocky and barren, which
are frightful to the traveller, and useless to the in¬
habitants, but fruitful hills, such as put forth pre¬
cious things, Deut. 33. 15. which charmed the
spectator’s eye, and filled the owner’s hand. And
valleys, not mossy and boggy, but covered with corn,
Ps. 65. 13. There were plains, and springs to wa¬
ter them; and even in that rich land there were
wildernesses too, or forests, which were not so
thickly inhabited as other parts, yet had towns and
houses in them, but served as foils to set off the
more pleasant and fruitful countries.
III. The several nations that had been in posses¬
sion of this country, Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites,
&c. all of them descended from Canaan the accurs¬
ed son of Ham, Gen. 10. 15- -18. Seven nations
they are called, Deut. 7. 1. and so many are there
reckoned up, but here six only are mentioned, the
Girgashites being here either lost or left out, though
we find them, Gen. 10. 16. and 15. 21. Eithei
they were incorporated with some other of these
nations, or, as the tradition of the Jews is, upon the
approach of Israel under Joshua, they all withdrew
and went into Africa, leaving their country to be
possessed by Israel, with whom they saw it was to
no purpose to contend, and therefore they are not
named among the nations that Joshua subdued.
IV. A list of the kings that were conquered and
subdued by the sword of Israel, some in the field,
others in their own cities. Thirty one in all, and
very particularly named and counted, it should
seem, in the order in which they .were conquered;
for the catalogue begins with the kings of Jericho
and Ai, then takes in the king of Jerusalem, and the
princes of the south that were in confederacy with
him, and then proceeds to those of the northern as¬
sociation. Now,
1. This shows what a very fmitful country
Canaan then was, which could support so many
kingdoms, and in which so many kings chose to
throng together, rather than disperse themselves
into other countries, which we may suppose not yet
inhabited, but where, though they might find more
room, they could not expect such plenty and plea¬
sure: this was the land God spied out for Israel ; and
yet at this day it is one of the most barren, despica¬
ble, and unprofitable, countries in the world; such
is the effect of the curse it lies under, since its pos¬
sessors rejected Christ and his Gospel, as was fore¬
told by Moses, Deut. 29. 23.
2. It shows what narrow limits men’s ambition
was then confined to. These kings contented them¬
selves with the government, each of them, of one
city, and the towns and villages that pertained to
it; and no one of them, for aught that appears,
aimed to make himself master of the rest, but,
when there was occasion, united for the common
safety. Yet it should seem that what was wanting
in the extent of their territories, was made up in
the absoluteness of their power, their subjects being
all their tenants and vassals, and entirely at their
command.
3. It shows how good God was to Israel, in giving
them victory over all these kings, and possession of
all these kingdoms, and what obligations he hereby
laid upon them to observe his statutes, and to Peep
his lavjs, Ps. 105. 44, 45. Here were thirty-one
kingdoms, or signiories, to be divided among nine
tribes and a half of Israel. Of these there fell
to the lot of Judah, the kingdoms of Hebron, Jar¬
muth, Lachish, Eglon, Debir, Arad, Libnath, and
Adullam, eight in all, beside part of the k ngdom
of Jerusalem, and part of Geder. Benjamin had
the kingdoms of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Makke
dah, Beth-el, and the nations of Gilgal, sx in all
Simeon had the kingdom of Hormah, and part of
Geder. Ephraim had the kingdoms of Gezer and
Tirzah. Manasseh (that half-tribe) had the king¬
doms of Tappuah and Hepher, Taanach and Me¬
giddo. Asher had the kingdoms of Aphek and
Achshaph. Zebulon had the kingdoms of L isha-
ron, Shimron-meron and Jokneam. Naphtali had
the kingdoms of Madon, Hazor, and Kedesh. And
Issachar had that of Dor. These were some of the
great and famous kings that God smote, for his
mercy endureth for ever; and gave their land for
a heritage, even a heritage unto Israel his servant,
for his mercy endureth for ever, Ps. 136. 17, &c.
CHAP. XIII.
At this chapter begins the account of the dividing of the
land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel by lot; a nar¬
rative not so entertaining and instructive as that of the
conquest of it, and yet if is thought fit to be inserted in
the sacred history, to illustrate the performance of ti e
64
JOSHUA, XIII.
promise made to the Fathers, that this land should be
given to the seed of Jacob, to them, and not to any
other. The preserving of this distribution would be of
great use to the Jewish nation, who were obliged by the
law to keep up this first distribution, and not to transfer
inheritances from tribe to tribe, Numb. 36. 9. It is like¬
wise of use to us for the exp'aining of other scriptures:
the learned know how much light the geographical de¬
scription of a country gives to the history of it. And
therefore we are not to skip over these chapters of hard
names, as useless and not to be regarded; where God
has a mouth to speak, and a hand to write, we should
find an ear to hear, and an eye to read; and God give us
a heart to profit ! In this chapter, I. God informs Joshua
what parts of the country that were intended in the grant
to Israel, yet remained unconquered, and not got in pos¬
session, v. 1 . . 6. II. He appoints him, notwithstand¬
ing, to make a distribution of what was conquered, v. 7.
III. To complete this account, here is a repetition of the
distribution Moses had made of the land on the other
side Jordan; in general, v. 8 . . 14. In particular, the lot
of Reuben, v. 15 . . 23. Of Gad, v. 24 . . 28. Of the half¬
tribe of Manasseh, v. 29 . . 33.
1. lyrOW Joshua was old and stricken in
J3I years ; and the Lord said unto him,
Thou art old and stricken in years, and there
remaineth yet very much land to be pos¬
sessed. 2. This is the land that yet remain¬
eth : all the borders of the Philistines, and
all Geshuri, 3. From Sihor, which is be¬
fore Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron
northward, which is counted to the Canaan-
ite : five lords of the Philistines ; the Gazath-
ites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites,
the Gittites, and the Ekronites ; also the
Avites : 4. From the south, all the land of
the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside
the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders
of the Amorites : 5. And the land of the
Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sun¬
rising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon
unto the entering into Hamath : 6. All the
inhabitants of the hill country, from Leba¬
non unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Si¬
donians, them will I drive out from before
the children of Israel : only divide thou it by
lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance as
I have commanded thee.
Here,
I. God puts Joshua in mind of his old age, v. 1.
1. It is said that Joshua was old and stricken in
years, and he and Caleb were at this time the only
old men among the thousands of Israel; none (ex¬
cept them) or ail those who were numbered at
mount Sinai being now alive. He had been a man
of war from his youth, Exod. 17. 10. but now he
yielded to the infirmities of age, with which it is in
vain for the stoutest man to think of contesting. It
should seem Joshua had not the same strength and
vigour in his old age, that Moses had; all that come
to old age, do not find it alike good; generally, the
days of old age are evil days, and such as there is
no pleasure in them, nor expectation of service from
them. 2. God takes notice of it to him, God said
unto him, Thou art old. Note, It is good for those
who are old and stricken in years, to be put in re¬
membrance of their being so. Some have gray
hairs here and there upon them, and perceive it not,
Hos. 7. 9. they do not care to think of it, and there¬
fore need to be told of it, that they may be quick¬
ened to do the work of life, and make preparation
tor death which is coming toward them apace.
But God mentions Joshua’s age and growing infir
mities, (1.) Asa reason why he should now lay by
the thoughts of pursuing the war; he cannot expect
to see an end of it quickly, for there remained
much land, more perhaps than he thought, to be
possessed, in several parts remote from each other:
and it was not fit that at this age he should be put
upon the fatigue of renewing the war, and carrying
it to such distant places; no, it was enough for him
that he had reduced the body of the country, let
him be gathered to rest, with honour and the thanks
of his people, for the good services he had done
them, and let the conquering of the skirts of the
country be left for those that shall come after. As
he had entered into the labours of Moses, so let
others enter into his, and bring forth the top-stone;
the doing of which was reserved for David long
after. Observe, God considers the frame of his
people, and would not have them burthened with
work above their strength. It cannot be expected
that old peopld should do as they have done for God
and their country. (2.) As a reason why he shou'd
speedily apply himself to the dividing of that which
he had conquered. That work must be done, and
done quickly; it was necessary that he should pre¬
side in the doing of it, and therefore, he being old
and stricken in years, and not likely to continue
long, let him make that his concluding piece of ser¬
vice to God and Israel. All people, but especially
old people, should set themselves to do that quickly
which must be done before they die, lest death pre¬
vent them, Eccl. 9. 10.
II. He gives him a particular account of the land
that yet remained unconquered, which was intend¬
ed for Israel, and which, in due time, they should
be masters of, if they did not put a bar in their own
door. Divers places are here mentioned, some in
the south, as the country of the Philistines, govern¬
ed by five lords, and the land that lay toward
Egypt, v. 2, 3. Some westward, as that which lay
toward the Sidonians, v. 4. Some eastward, as all
Lebanon, v. 5. Joshua is told this, and he made
the people acquainted with it, 1. That they might
be the more affected with God’s goodness to them
in giving to them this good land, and might thereby
be engaged to love and serve him; for if this which
they had was too little, God would moreover erne
them such and such things, 2 Sam. 12. 8. 2. That
they might not be tempted to make any league, or
contract any dangerous familiarity with these their
neighbours, so as to learn their way, but might ra¬
ther be jealous of them, as people that kept them
from their right, and that they had just cause of
quarrel with. 3. That they might keep them¬
selves in a posture for war, and not think of putting
off the harness, as long as there remained any land
to be possessed. Nor must we lay aside our spirit¬
ual armour, or be off our watch, till our victory be
complete in the kingdom of glory.
III. He promises that he would make the Israel¬
ites masters of all those countries that were yet
unsubdued, though Joshua was old, and not able to
do it, old and not likely to live to see it done.
Whatever becomes of us, and however we may be
laid aside as dtspised broken vessels, God will do
his own work in his own time, v. 6, I will drive
them out. The original is emphatical, “ It is /that
will do it, I that can do it, when thou art dead and
gone, and will do it, if Israel be not wanting to
themselves.” “I will do it by my Word,” so the
Chaldee here, as in many other "places, “by the
eternal Word, the Captain of the hosts cf the
Lord.” This promise that he would drive them out
from before the children of Israel, plainly supposes
it as the condition of the promise, that the chil¬
dren of Israel must themselves attempt and endea
vour their extirpation, must go up against them,
65
JOSHU
rise they could not be said to be driven out before
them; if afterwards, Israel, through sloth, or cow¬
ardice, or affection to these idolaters, sit still and
let them alone, they must blame themselves, and
not God, if they be not driven out. We must work
out our salvation, and then God will work in us, and
work with us; we must resist our spiritual enemies,
and then God will tread them under our feet; we
must go forth to our Christian work and warfare,
and then God will go forth before us.
7. Now therefore divide this land for an
inheritance unto the nine tribes and the half
tribe of Manasseh, 8. With whom the
Reubenites and the Gadites have received
their inheritance, which Moses gave them,
beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the
servant of the Lord gave them ; 9. From
Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river
Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of
the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto
Dibon; 10. And all the cities of Sihon
king of the Amorites, which reigned in
Heshbon, unto the border of the children of
Ammon ; 11. And Gilead, and the border
of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all
mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Sal-
cah ; 12. All the kingdom ofOg in Bashan,
which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei,
who remained of the remnant of the giants :
for these did Moses smite, and cast them
out. 13. Nevertheless the children of Is¬
rael expelled not the Geshurites, nor the
Maachathites ; but the Geshurites and the
Maachathites dwell among the Israelites
until this day. 1 4. Only unto the tribe of
Levi he gave none inheritance ; the sacrifi¬
ces of the Lord God of Israel made by fire
are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
1 5. And Moses gave unto the tribe of the
children of Reuben inheritance according to
their families: 16. And their coast was
from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river
Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of
the river, and all the plain by Medeba ; 1 7.
Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the
plain ; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-
baal-meon, 18. And Jahaza, and Kede-
moth, and Mephaath, 19. And Kirjathaim,
and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the
mount of the valley, 20. And Beth-peor,
and Ashdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,
21. And all the cities of the plain, and all
the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites,
which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses
smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and
Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba,
which ivere dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the
country. 22. Baalam also the son of Beor,
the soothsayer, did the children of Israel
slay with the sword among them that were
slain by them. 23. And the border of the
Vol. ii. — T
V, XIII.
children of Reuben was Jordan, and the
border thereof. This was the inheritance
of the childi en of Reuben after their fami¬
lies, the cities and villages thereof. 24
And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe
of Gad, even unto the children of Gad ac¬
cording to their families: 25 And their
coast was Jazer, and all^he cities of Gi
lead, and half the land of tlw children of Am
mon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah ;
26. And from Heshbon unto Ramath-rniz-
peh, and Betonim ; and from Mahanaim
unto- the border of Debir ; 27. Ana in the
valley, Beth-aram, and Beth-nimrah, and
Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the king¬
dom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and
his border, even unto the edge of the sea of
Chinneroth, on the other side Jordan east¬
ward. 28. This is the inheritance of the
children of Gad after their families, the
cities, and their villages. 29. And Moses
gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Ma¬
nasseh : and this was the possession of the
half tribe of the children of Manasseh by
their families. 30. And their coast was
from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the king¬
dom of Og king of Bashan, and all the
towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, three¬
score cities; 31. And half Gilead, and
Ashteroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom
of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the
children of Machir the son of Manasseh,
even to the one half of the children of Machir
by their families. 32. These are the coun¬
tries which Moses did distribute for inherit¬
ance in the plains of Moab, on the other
side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. 33. But
unto the tribe of Levi, Moses gave not any
inheritance : the Lord God of Israel was
their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Here we have,
I. Orders given to Joshua to assign to each tribe
its portion of this land, including that which was
yet unsubdued, which must be brought into the lot,
in a believing confidence that it should be conquered
when Israel was multiplied, so as to have occasion
for it, v. 7, JVoiv divide this land. Joshua thought
all must be conquered, before any must be divided:
“No,” said God, “there is as much conquered as
will serve your turn for the present, divide that,
and make your best of it, and wait for the remain¬
der hereafter.” Note, We must take the comfort
of what we have, though we cannot compass all we
would have. Observe,
1. The land must be divided among the several
tribes, and they must always live in common, as
now they did. Which way soever a just property
is acquired, it is the will of that God who has given
the earth to the children of men, that there should
be such a thing, and that every man should know
his own, and not invade that which is another’s.
The world must be governed, not by force, but
right, b.y the law of equity, not of arms.
2. That it must be divided for an inheritance,
though they got it by conquest. (1.) The promise
Joshua, xm.
of it came to them as an inheritance from their
fathers; the land of promise pertained to the chil-
Iren of promise, who were thus beloved for their
fathers’ sakes, and in performance of the covenant
with them. (2.) The possession of it was to be
transmitted by them, as an inheritance to their
children. Frequently, what is got by force, is soon
lost again; but Israeli having an incontestable title
to this land by the divine grant, might see it thereby
secured as ah inheritance to their seed after them,
and that God kep^lis mercy for thousands.
3. That Joshua must divide it, not by his own
will; though he was a very wise, just, and good man,
it must not be left to him to give what he pleased to
each tribe; but he must do it by lot, which referred
‘he matter wholly to God, and to his determination,
for he it is that appoints the bounds of our habita¬
tion, and every man’s judgment must proceed from
him. But Joshua must preside in this affair, must
manage this solemn appeal to Providence, and see
that the lot was drawn fairly and without fraud, and
that every tribe did acquiesce in it. The lot indeed
causeth contention to cease, Prov. 18. 18. But if
upon this lot any controversy should arise, Joshua
by his wisdom and authority must determine it,
arid prevent any ill consequences of it. Joshua
must have the honour of dividing the land, (1.) Be¬
cause he had undergone the fatigue of conquering
it; and when, through his hand, each tribe received
its allotment, they would thereby be made the
more sensible of their obligations to him. And
what a pleasure must it needs be to a man of such
a public spirit as Joshua was, to see the peop’e that
were so dear to him, eating the labour of his hands!
(2.) That he might be herein a type of Christ, who
has not only conquered for us the gates of hell, but
has opened to us the gates of heaven, and having
purchased the eternal inheritance for all believers,
will in due time put them all in possession of it.
II. An account is here given of the distribution
of the land on the other side Jordan, among the
Reubenites, and Gadites, and half of the tribe of
Manasseh, which comes in, 1. As the reason why
this land within Jordan must be divided only to the
nine tribes and a half, because the other two and a
half were already provided for. 2. As a pattern to
Joshua in the work he had now to do. He had
seen Moses distribute the land, which would give
him some aim in distributing this, and from thence
he might take his measures; only this was to be
done by lot, but it should seem, Moses did that him¬
self, according to the wisdom given unto him. 3.
As an inducement to Joshua to hasten the dividing
of thisdand, that the nine tribes and a half might
not be kept any longer than was necessary out of
their possession, since their brethren of the two
tribes and a half were so well settled in their’s; and
God, their common Father, would not have such a
difference made between his children.
(1.) Here is a general description of the country
that was given to the two tribes and a half, which
Moses gave them, even as Moses gave them, v. 8.
The repetition implies a ratification of the grant by
Joshua, Moses settled that matter, and as Moses
settled it, so shall it rest; Joshua will not, under any
pretence whatsoever, go about to alter it. And a
reason is intimated why he would not, because Mo¬
ses was the servant of the Lord, and acted in this
matter by secret direction from him, and was faith¬
ful as a servant. Here we have, [1.] The fixing
of the boundaries of this country, by which they
were divided from the neighbouring nations, v. 9,
ifc. Israel must know their own, and keep to it,
and may not under pretence of their being God’s
peculiar people, encroach upon their neighbours,
and invade their rights and properties, to which
they had a good and firm title by providence.
though not, as Israel, a title by premise. [2.] An
exception of one part of this country fr< m Israel’s
possession, though it was in their gr.mt, namely, the
Geshurites, and the Maachathites, v. 13. They
had not leisure to reduce all the remote and ob¬
scure corners of the country in Moses’s time, and
afterward they had no mind to it, being easy with
what they had. Thus those who are not straitened
in God’s promises, are yet straitened in their own
faith, and prayers, and endeavours.
(2.) A particular account of the inheritance of
these two tribes and a half; how they were sepa¬
rated from each other, and what cities, with the
towns, villages, and fields, commonly known and
reputed to be appurtenances- to them, belonged to
each tribe. This is very fully and exactly set
down, [1.] That posterity might, in reading this
history, be the more affected with the goedness of
God to their ancestors, when they found what a
large and fruitful country, and what abundance of
great and famous cities, he put them in possession
of. God’s grants look best, when we descend to the
particulars. [2.] That the limits of each tribe
being punctually set down in this authentic record,
disputes might be prevented, and such contests
between the tribes, as commonly happen where
boundaries have not been adjusted, nor this matter
brought to a certainty. And Ave ha\ e reason to
think that the register here prescribed and pub¬
lished of the lot of each tribe, was of great use to
Israel in after-ages, was often appealed to, and
always acquiesced in, for the determining of meuni
and iuam — mine and thine.
First, We have here the lot of the tribe of Reu¬
ben, Jacob’s first-born ; who, though he had lest
the dignity and power which pertained to the birth¬
right, yet, it seems had the advantage of being first
served. Perhaps those of that tribe had an eye to
this, in desiring to be seated on that side Jordan,
that, since they could not expect the benefit of the
best lot, they might have the credit of the first. In
the account of the lot of this tribe, mention is made
of the slaughter, 1. Of Sihon, king of the Amorites,
who reigned in this country, and might have kept
it and his life, if he would have been neighbourly,
and have suffered Israel to pass through his territo¬
ries, but, by attempting to oppose them, justly
brought ruin upon himself, Numb. 21. 21, Lfc. 2.
Of the princes of Midian, who were slain after¬
ward in another war, Numb. 31. 8. and yet are
here called dukes of Sihon, and are said to be
smitten with him, because they were either tributa¬
ries to him, or, in his opposition to Israel, confeder¬
ates with him, and hearty in his interests, and his
fall made rvay for their’s not long after. 3. Of Ba¬
laam particularly, that would, if he could, have
cursed Israel, and Avas soon after recompensed
according to the wickedness of his endeavour, Ps.
28. 4. For he fell with those that set him on.
This Avas recorded before, Numb. 31. 8. and is here
repeated, because the defeating of Balaam’s pur¬
pose to curse Israel, was the turning of that curse
into a blessing, and was such an instance of the
poiver and goodness of God, as was fit to be had in
everlasting remembrance. See Micah 6. 5.
Within the lot of this tribe Avas that mount Pis-
gah, from the top of which Moses took his aucav
of the earthly Canaan, and his flight to the hea¬
venly. And not far off thence Elijah avos, when he
was fetched up to heaven in a chariot of fire. The
separation of this tribe from the rest by the river
Jordan, was that Avhich Deborah lamented; and the
preference they gave to their private interests
above the public, was Avhat she censured, Judg. 5.
15, 16. In this tribe lay Heshbon and Sibmnh,
famed for their fruitful fields and vineyards. See
|j Tsa. 16. 8, 9. Jer. 48. 32. This tribe, with that
JOSHUA, XIV. (5?
of Gad, was sorely shaken by Hazael king of Syria,
2 Kings 10. 33. and afterward dislodged and carried
into captivity, twenty years before the general cap¬
tivity of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria, 1
Chron. 5. 26.
Secondly, The lot of the tribe of Gad, v. 24* *28.
This lay north of Reuben’s lot; the country of
Gilead lay in this tribe, so famous for its balm, that
it is thought strange indeed if there be no balm in
Gilead, and the cities of Jabesh-Gilead, and Ra-
moth-Gilead, which we often read of in scripture.
Succoth and Peniel, which we read of in the story
of Gideon, were in this tribe; and that forest which
is called the wood of Ephraim, (from the slaughter
Jephthah made thereof the Ephraimites,) in which
Absalom’s rebellious army was beaten, while his
father David lay at Mahanaim, one of the frontier-
cities of this tribe, v. 26. Sharon was in this tribe,
famous for Roses. And within the limits of this
tribe lived those Gadarenes, that loved their swine
better than their Saviour, fitter to be called Gar-
gashites than Israelites.
Thirdly, The lot of the half-tribe of Manasseh,
v. 29* *31. Bashan, the kingdom of Og, was in
this allotment, famous for the best timber, witness
the oaks of Bashan, and the best breed of cattle,
witness the bulls and rams of Bashan. This tribe
lay north of Gad, reached to mount Hermon, and
had in it part of Gilead. Mizpeli was in this half¬
tribe, and Jephthah was one of its ornaments; so
was Elijah, for in this tribe was Thisbe, whence he
is called the Tishbite, and Jair was another. In
the edge of the tribe stood Chorazin, honoured
with Christ’s wondrous works, but ruined by his
righteous woe for not improving them.
Lastly, Twice in this chapter it is taken notice
of, that to the tribe of Levi Afoses gave no inherit -
ance, v. 14. 33. for so God had appointed, Numb.
18. 20. If they had been appointed to a lot entire
by themselves, Moses would have served them first,
not because it was his own tribe, but because it was
God’s, but they must be provided for in another
manner; their habitations must be scattered in all the
tribes, and their maintenance brought out of all the
tribes, and God himself was the portion both of their
inheritance and of their cup, Deut. 10. 9. — 18. 2.
CHAR XIV.
Here is, I. The general method that was taken in dividing
the land, v. 1..5. II. The demand Caleb made of
Hebron, as his by promise, and therefore not to be put
into the lot with the rest, v. 6 . . 12. III. And Joshua’s
grant of that demand, v. 13.. 15. This was done at
Gilgal, which was as yet their head-quarters.
1. 4 ND these are the countries which the
J\ children of Israel inherited in the
land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest,
and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads
of the fathers of the tribes of the children
of Israel, distributed for inheritance to
them. 2. By lot was their inheritance, as
the Lord commanded by the hand of Mo¬
ses, for the nine tribes, and for the half
tribe. 3. F or Moses had given the inherit¬
ance of two tribes and a half tribe on the
other side Jordan : but unto the Levites he
gave none inheritance among them. 4.
For the children of Joseph were two tribes,
Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they
gave no part unto the Levites in the land,
save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs
for their cattle and for their substance. 5.
As the Lord commanded Moses, so the
children of Israel did, and they divided the
land.
The historian, having in the foregoing chapter
given an account of the disposal of the countries on
the other side Jordan, now comes to tell us whal
they did with the countries in the land of Canaan.
They were not conquered to be left desert, a habi¬
tation for dragons, and a court for owls, Isa. 34.
13. tfo. The Israelites that had hitherto been
closely encamped in a body, and the greatest part
of them such as never knew any other way cf liv¬
ing, must now disperse themselves to replenish
these new conquests. It is said of the earth, Goa
created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited,
Isa. 45. 18. Canaan would have been subdued in
vain, if it had not been inhabited. Yet every man
might not go and settle where he pleased, but as
there seems to have been in the days of Peleg an
orderly and regular division of the habitable earth
among the sons of Noah, Gen. 10. 25, 32. so there
was now such a division of the land of Canaan
among the sons of Jacob. God had given Moses
directions how this distribution should be made, and
those directions are here punctually observed. See
Numb. 33. 53, Lfc.
I. The managers of this great affair, were Joshua
the chief magistrate, Eleazar the chief priest, and
ten princes, one of each of the tribes that were now
to have their inheritance, whom God himself had
nominated (Numb. 34. 17, itfc.) some years before,
and it should seem, they were all now in being, and
attended this service, that every tribe having a
representative of its own, might be satisfied that
there was fair dealing, and might the more con¬
tentedly sit down by its lot.
II. The tribes among whom this dividend was to
be made, were nine and a half. 1. Not the two
and a half that were already seated, v. 3. though
perhaps now that they saw what a good land Ca¬
naan was, and how effectually it was subdued, they
might some of them repent their choice, and wish
they had now been to have their lot with their bre¬
thren, upon which condition they would gladly
have given up what they had on the other side Jor¬
dan; but it would not lie admitted, they had made
their election without power of -revocation, and so
must their dorm be, themselves have decided it,
they must adhere to their choice. 2. Not the tribe'
of Levi, that was to be otherwise provided for.
God had distinguished them from, and dignified
them above, the other tribes, and they must not
now mingle themselves with them, nor cast in their
lot among them, for that would entangle them in
the affairs of this life, which would not consist with
a due attendance on their sacred function. But, 3.
Joseph made two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim,
pursuant to Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s two sons,
and so the number of the tribes was kept up to
twelve, though Levi was taken out, which is inti¬
mated here, v. 4, The children of Joseph were two
tribes, therefore they gave no part to Levi, they be¬
ing twelve without him.
III. The rule by which they went, was the lot,
v. 2. The disposal of that is of the Lord, Prov. 16.
33. It was here used in an" affair of weight, and
which could not otherwise be accommodated to uni¬
versal satisfaction, and it was used in a solemn reli¬
gious manner as an appeal to God, by consent of
parties. In dividing by lot, 1. They referred them¬
selves to God, and to his wisdom and sovereignty,
believing him fitter to determine for them, than
they for themselves, Ps. 47. 4, He shall choose our
inheritance for us. 2. They professed a willingness
to abide by the determination of it; for every man
must take what is his lot, and make the best of it.
r»s
JOSHUA, XIV.
In allusion to this, we are said to obtain an inherit¬
ance in Christ, Eph. 1. 11* we have
obtained it by lot. So the word signifies; for it is
obtained by a divine designation. Christ, our Josh¬
ua, gives eternal life to us many as were given him,
John 17. 2.
G. Then the children of Judah came unto
Joshua in Gilgal : and Caleb the son of Je-
phunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou
knowest the thing that the Lord said unto
Moses the man of God concerning me and
thee in Kadesh-barnea. 7. Forty years old
mas I when Moses the servant of the Lord
sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out
the land ; and I brought him word again as
it was in mine heart. 8. Nevertheless my
brethren that went up with me made the
heart of the people melt : but 1 wholly fol¬
lowed the Lord my God. 9. And Moses
sware on that day, saying, Surely the land
whereon thy feet have trodden shall be
thine inheritance, and thy children’s for
ever, because thou hast wholly followed
the Lord my God. 10. And now, behold,
the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said,
these forty and five years, even since the
Lord spake this word unto Moses, while
the children of Israel wandered in the wil¬
derness : and now, lo, I am this day four¬
score and five years old. 11. As yet I am
as strong this clay as I teas in the day that
Moses sent me: as my strength was then,
even so is my strength now, for war, both
to go out and to come in. 12. Now there¬
fore give me this mountain, whereof the
Lord spake in that day ; for thou heardest
in that day how the Anakims were there,
and that the cities were great and fenced : if
so be the Lord will he with me, then I
shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord
said. 1 3. And Joshua blessed him, and gave
unto Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, Hebron
for an inheritance. 14. Hebron therefore
became the inheritance of Caleb, the son
of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day,
because that he wholly followed the Lord
God of Israel. 15. And the name of He¬
bron before was Kirjath-arba : which Arha
was a great man among the Anakims. And
the land had rest from war.
Before the lot was cast into the lap for the deter¬
mining of the portions of the respective tribes, the
particular portion of Caleb is assigned him, who
was now, except Joshua, not only the oldest man in
all Israel, but was twenty years older than any of
them, for all that were above twenty years old
when he was forty, were dead in the wilderness; it
was fit therefore that this phoenix of his age should
have some particular marks of honour put upon
him in the dividing of the land. Now,
I. Caleb here presents his petition, or rather,
makes his demand, to have Hebron given him for
a possession, ( this mountain , he calls it, v. 12.) and
not to have that put into the lot with the other
parts of the country. To justify his demand, he
shows that God had long since, by Moses, promised
him that very mountain; so that God’s mind being
already made known in this matter, it would be a
vain and needless thing to consult it any further by
casting lots, by which we are to appeal to God in
those cases only which, cannot otherwise be decided,
not in those which like this here, are already de¬
termined. Caleb is here called the Kenezite, some
think, from some remarkable victory obtained by
him over the Kenezites, as the Romans gave their
great generals titles from the countries they con¬
quered, as Africanus, Germanicus, & c.
To enforce his petition, 1. He brings the children
of Judah, that is, the heads and great men of that
tribe, along with him, to present it, who were will¬
ing thus to pay their respects to that ornament of
their tribe, and to testify their consent that he should
be provided for by himself, and that they would
not take it as any reflection upon the rest of his
tribe. Caleb was the person whom God had
chosen out of that tribe to be employed in dividing
the land, Numb. 34. 19. And therefore, lest he
should seem to improve his authority as a commis¬
sioner for his own private advantage and satisfac¬
tion, he brings his brethren along with him, and
waving his own power, seems rather to rely upon
their interest. 2. He appeals to Joshua himself
concerning the truth of the allegations, upon which
he grounded his petition. Thou knowest the thing;
v. 6. 3. He makes a very honourable mention of
Moses, which he knew would not be at all unpleas¬
ing to Joshua, Moses the man of God, v. 6. and the
servant of the Lord, v. 7. \V hat Moses said, he
took as from God himself, because Moses was his
mouth, and his agent, and therefore he had reason
both to desire and expect it should be made good.
What can be more earnestly desired than the to¬
kens of God’s favour? And what more confidently
expected than the grants of his promise?
Caleb, in his petition, sets forth,
( 1. ) The testimony of his conscience concerning
his integrity in the management of that great affair,
on which it proved the fate of Israel turned, the
spying out of the land. Caleb was one of the twelve
that were sent out on that errand, v. 7. and he now
reflected upon it with comfort, and mentioned i:,
not in pride, but as that which, being the consider¬
ation of the grant, was necessary to be inserted in
the plea. [1.] That he made his report as it was
in his heart, that is, he spake as he thought, when
he spake so honourably of the land of Canaan, so
confidently of the power of God to put them in pos¬
session of it, and so contemptibly of the opposition
that the Canaanites, even the Anakims themselves,
could make against them, as we find he did, Numb.
13. 30. — 14. 7* -9. He did not do it merely to please
Moses, or to keep the people quiet, much less frojn
a spirit of contradiction to his fellows, but from a
full conviction of the truth of what he said, and a
firm belief of the divine promise. [2.] That hcreip
he wholly followed the Lord his God, that is,? lie
kept close to his duty, and sincerely aimed at tqe
glory of God in it. He conformed himself to the
divine will with an eye to the divine favour. He
had obtained this testimony from God himself,
Numb. 14. 24. and therefore it was not vain-glory
in him to speak of it, any more than it is for thpse
who have God's S/iirit witnessing with their s/drits
that they arc the children of God, humbly and
thankfully to tell others for their encouragement
what God has done for their souls. Note;, They
that follow God fully when they are young, shall
have both the credit and comfort of if when they
are old, and the reward of it for ever in the heaven¬
ly Canaan. [3.] That he did this when all his
69
JOSHUA, XIV.
brethren and companions in that service, except
Joshua, did otherwise. They made the heart of the
f ieople melt, v. 8. and how pernicious the conse¬
quences of it were, was very well known. It adds
much to the praise of following God, if we adhere
to him when others desert and decline from him.
Caleb needed not to mention particularly Joshua’s
conduct in this matter, it was sufficiently known,
and he would not seem to flatter him; it was enough
to say, v. 6, Thou knowest what the Lord s/iake
concerning me and thee.
(2. ) The experience he had had of God’s good¬
ness to him ever since to this day. Though he had
wandered with the rest in the wilderness, and had
been kept thirty-eight years out of Canaan, as they
were, for that sin, which he was so far from having
a hand in, that he had done his utmost to prevent;
yet, instead of complaining of that, he mentions, to
the glory of God, his mercy to him in two things,
[1.] That he was kept alive in the wilderness, not
only notwithstanding the common perils and fa¬
tigues of that tedious march, but though all the
generation of Israelites, except himself and Joshua,
were one way or other cut off by death: with what
a grateful sense of God’s goodness to him does he
speak it! v. 10, Now, behold, (behold and wonder,)
the Lord hath kef it me alive these forty and five
years — thirty-eight years in the wilderness, through
the plagues of the desert, and seven years in Ca¬
naan through the perils of war! Note, First,
While we live, it is God that keeps us alive; by his
power he protects us from death, and by his bounty
supplies us continually with the supports and com¬
forts of life. He holdeth our soul in life. Secondly,
The longer we live, the more sensible we should be
of God’s goodness to us in keeping us alive, his care
in prolonging our frail lives, his patience in prolong¬
ing our forfeited lives. Has he kept me alive these
f n'ty-five years? Is it about that time of life with
us"1 Or is it more? Or is it less? We have reason
to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not
consumed. How much are we indebted to the fa¬
vour of God, and what shall we render? Let the
life thus kept by the providence of God, be devoted
to his praise. Thirdly, The death of many others
round about us, should make us the more thankful
to God for sparing us and keeping us alive. Thou¬
sands falling on our right hand and our left, and yet
ourselves spared — these distinguishing favours im¬
pose on us strong obligations to singular obedience.
[2.] That he was fit for business, now that he was
in Canaan. Though eighty-five year^ old, yet as
hearty and lively as when he was forty, v. 11, As
my strength was then, so it is now. This was the
fruit of the promise, and out-did what was said; for. I
God not only gives what he promises, but he gives
more; life by promise, shall be life, and health, and
strength, and all that which will make the pro¬
mised life a blessing and a comfort. Moses had
said in his prayer, Ps. 90. 10. that at eighty years
old even their strength is labour and sorrow, and
so it is most commonly, but Caleb was an excep¬
tion to the rule; his strength at eighty-five was
ease and joy, this he got by following the Lord ful¬
ly. Caleb takes notice of this here to the glory of
God, and as an excuse for his asking a portion
which he must fetch out of the giants’ hands: let
not Joshua tell him he knew not what he asked; could
he get the possession of that which he begged for a ;
title to? “Yes,” says he, “why not? I am as fit
for war now as ever I was. ”
(3.) The promise Moses had made him in God’s
name, that he should have this mountain, v. 9.
This promise is his chief plea, and that on which
he relies. As we find it, Numb. 14. 24. it is gene¬
ral, him will I bring into the land whereunto fc
went, and his seed shall possess it: but it seems it
was more particular, and Joshua knew it; both
sides understood this mountain for which Caleb was
now a suitor, to be intended. This was the place
from which, more than any other, the spies took
their report, for here they met with the sons of
Anak, Numb. 13. 22. the sight of whom made such
an impression upon them, v. 33. We may suppose
that Caleb, observing what stress they laid upon
the difficulty of conquering Hebron, a city garri¬
soned by the giants, and how from thence they in¬
ferred that the conquest of the whole land was ut¬
terly impracticable, in opposition to their sugges¬
tions, and to convince the people that he spake as
he thought, bravely desired to have that city which
they called invincible, assigned to himself for his
own portion; “I will undertake to deal with that,
and if I cannot get it for my inheritance, I will be
without.” “ Well,” said Moses, “it shall be thine
own then, win it and wear it.” Such a noble heroic
spirit Caleb had, and so desirous was he to inspire
his brethren with it, that he chose this place, only
because it was the most difficult to be conquered.
And to show that his soul did not decay any more
than his body, now forty five years after he adheres
to his choice, and is still of the same mind.
(4.) The hopes he had of being master of it,
though the som of Anak were in possession of it,
v. 12, If the Lord will be with me, then I shall be
able to drive them out. The city of Hebron Joshua
had already reduced, ch. 10. 37. but the mountain
which belonged to it, and which was inhabited by
the sons of Anak, was yet unconquered, for though
the cutting off the Anakimsfrom Hebron was men¬
tioned, ch. 11. 21. because the historian would re¬
late all the military actions together, yet it seems it
was not conquered till after they had begun to di¬
vide the land. Observe, He builds his hopes of
driving out the sons of Anak upon the presence of
God with him. He does not say, “ Because I am
now as strong for war as I was at forty, therefore I
shall drive them out,” depending upon his personal
valour; nor does he depend upon his interest in the
warlike tribe of Judah, who attended him now in
making this address, and no doubt would assist him.
Nor does he court Joshua’s aid, or put it upon that.
If thou wilt be with me I shall gain my point.”
But if the Lord will be with me. Here, [1.] He
seems to speak doubtfully of God’s being with him,
not from any distrust of his goodness or faithfulness.
He had spoken without the least hesitation of God’s
presence with Israel in general, Numb. 14. 9, The
Lord is with us; but for himself, from a humble
sense of his own unworthiness of such a favour, he
chooses to express himself thus, If the Lord will be
with me. The Chaldee paraphrase reads it, If the
Word of the Lord be my helper, that Word which
is God, and in the fulness of time was made flesh,
and is the Captain of our salvation. [2.] But
he speaks without the least doubt, he is assured
that if God were with him, he should be able to
dispossess the sons of Anak. “ If God be with us,
if God be for us, who can be against us, so as to pre¬
vail?” It is also intimated that if God were not
with him, though all the forces of Israel should
come in to his assistance, he should not be able to
gain his point. Whatever we undertake, God’s
favourable presence with us is all in all to our suc ¬
cess; that therefore we must earnestly pray for,
and carefully make sure of, by keeping ourselves in
the love of God; and on that we must depend, and
from that take our encouragement against the
greatest difficulties.
Upon the whole matter, Caleb’s request is, 12,
Give me this mountain, First, Because it was for¬
merly in God’s promise, and he would le^ Israel
know how much he valued the promise, insisting
upon this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that
JOSHUA, XV.
( lay, as nv'st desirable, though perhaps as good a
portion might have fallen to him by lot in common
with the rest. They that live bv faith, value that
which is given bv promise far above that which is
given by providence only. Secondly , Because it was
now in the Anakims’ possession, and he would let
Israel know how little he feared the enemy, and
would bv his example animate them to push on their
conquests. Herein Caleb answered his name, which
signifies all heart.
IT. Joshua grants his petition, v. 13, Joshua bless¬
ed him, commended his bravery, applauded his re¬
quest, and ga\ e him what he asked. He also prayed
for him, and for his good success in his intended
undertaking against the . sons of Anak. Joshua was
both a prince and a prophet, and upon both accounts
it was proper for him to give Caleb his blessing, for
the less is blessed of the better. Hebron was settled
on Caleb and his heirs, v. 14, because he wholly
followed the Lord God of Israel. And happy are
we if we follow him. Note, Singular piety shall be
crowned with singular favours. Now, 1. We are
here told what Hebron had been;, the city of Arba,
a great man among the Anaidms, v. 15. we find it
called Kirjath-arba, Gen. 23. 2. as the place where
Sarah died. Hereabouts Abraham, Isaac, and Ja¬
cob, lived most of their time in Canaan, and near to
it was the cave of Machpelah where they were bu¬
ried, which perhaps had led Caleb hither, when he
went to spy out the land, and had made him covet
tills rather than any other part for his inheritance.
2. We are afterward told what Hebron was. (1.)
It was one of the cities belonging to the priests.
Josh. 21. 13. and a city of refuge. Josh. 20. 7. when
Caleb had it, he contented himself with the country
about it, and cheerfully gave the city to the priests
and Lord’s ministers: thinking it coukl not be better
bestowed, no not upon his own children, nor that it
was the less his own for being thus devoted to God.
(2 ) It was a royal city, and in the beginning of Da¬
vid’s reign the metropolis of the kingdom of Judah;
tliither the poople resorted to him, and there he
reigned seven years. Thus highly was Caleb’s city
honoured; pity there should have been such a ble¬
mish upon his family long after, as Nabal was, who
was of the house of Caleb, lSm 25.3. But the
nest men cannot entail their \irtues.
CHAP. XV.
The land, though not completely conquered, yet being (as
was said in the close of the foregoing chapter) at rest
from mar, for the present, their armies all drawn out of
the field to a general rendezvous at Gilgal, there they
began to divide the land, though the work was afterward
perfected at Shiloh, ch. 18. l,&e. In this chapter, we
have the lot of the tribe of Judah, which in this, as in
other things, had the precedency; I. The borders or
bounds of the inheritance of Judah, v. 1. .12. II. The
particular assignment of Hebron and the country there¬
about to Caleb and his family, v. 13.. 19. III. The
names of the several cities that fell within Judah’s lot,
v. 21 . . 63.
l . rpHIS then was the lot of the tribe of the
Jl children of Judah by their families,
even to the border of Edom ; the wilderness of
Zin southward was the uttermost part of the
*;out.h coast. 2. And their south border was
from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay
that looketh southward : 3. And it went out
to tin1 south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and
passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the
south side unto Kadesh-barnea ; and passed
along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and
fetched a compass to Karkaa: 4. From
thence it passed toward Azmon, and went
out unto the river of Egypt ; and the goings
out of that coast were at the sea : This shall
be your south coast. 5. And the east bor¬
der was the salt sea even unto the end of
Jordan. And their border in the north
quarter was from the bay of the sea at the
uttermost part of Jordan: 6. And the bor¬
der went up to Beth-hoglah, and passed
along by the north of Beth-arabah ; and the
border went up to the stone of Bohan the
son of Reuben : 7. And the border went up
toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and
so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is
before the going up to Adummim, which is
on the south side of the river : and the bor¬
der passed toward the waters of En-she-
mesh, and the goings out thereof were at
En-rogel : 8. And the border went up by the
valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south
side of the Jebusite ; the same is Jerusalem :
and the border went up to the top of the
mountain that lieth before the valley of
Hinnom westward, which is at the end of
the valley of the giants northward : 9. And
the border was drawn from the top of the
hill unto the fountain of the water of Neph-
toah, and went out to the cities of mount
Ephron; and the border w as drawn to Baa-
lah, wdiich is Kirjath-jearim : 10. And the
border compassed from Baalah westward
unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the
side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon,
on the north side, and went down to Beth-
shemesh, and passed on to Timnah : 11.
And the border went out unto the side of
Ekron northward: and the border was
drawn to Shicron, and passed along to
mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel;
and the goings out of the border were at the
sea: 12. Wild the west border teas to the
great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the
coast of the children of Judah round about,
according to their families.
Judah and Joseph were the two sons of Jacob, on
whom Reuben’s forfeited birthright devolved. Ju¬
dah had the dominion entailed on him, and Joseph
the double portion, ar,d therefore these two tribes
were first seated; Judah in the southern pavtcf the
land of Canaan, and Joseph in the northern part, and
on them the other seven did attend, and had their
respective lots as appurtenances to these two; the
lots of Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan, were appendant
to Judah, and those of Issachar and Zebulon, Naph-
tali and Asher, to Joseph. These two were first set
up to be provided for, it should seem, before there
was such an exact survey of the land as *we find af¬
terward, ch. 18. 9. It is probable that the most
considerable parts of the northern and southern
countries, and those that lay nearest to Gilgal, and
which the people were best acquainted with, were
first put into two portions, and the lot was cast upon
them between these two principal tribes, of the one
of which Joshua was, and of the other Caleb, whe
JOSHUA, XV.
was the first commissioner in this writ of partition;
and by the decision of that lot, the southern country
fell to Judah, and which we have an account of in
this chapter, and the northern to Joseph, of which
we have an account in the two following chapters.
And when this was done, there was a more equal
dividend (either in quantity or quality) of the re¬
mainder among the seven tribes. And this, proba¬
bly, was intended in that general rale which was
given concerning this partition, Numb. 33. 54, to the
more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the
fewer ye shall give the less, and every man's inheri¬
tance shall be where his lot falleth, that is, “ Ye shall
appoint two greater portions which shall be deter¬
mined by lot to those more numerous tribes of Ju¬
dah and Joseph, and then the rest shall be lesser
portions to be allotted to the less numerous tribes. ”
The former was done in Gilgal, the latter in Shiloh.
In these verses we have the borders of the lot of
Judah, which as the rest, is said to be by their fami¬
lies, that is, with an eye to the number of their fa¬
milies. And it intimates that Joshua and Eleazar,
and the rest of the commissioners, when they had
by lot given each tribe its portion, did afterward (it
is probable by lot likewise) subdivide those larger
portions, and assign to each family its inheritance,
and then to each household, which would be better
done by this supreme authority, and be apt to give
less disgust, than if it had been left to the inferior
magistrates of each tribe to make that distribution.
The borders of this tribe are here largely fixed,
yet not unalterably, for a good deal of that which
lies within these bounds was afterward assigned to
the lots of Simeon and Dan.
1. The eastern border was all, and only, the salt
sea, v. 5. Every sea is salt, but this was of an ex¬
traordinary and more than natural saltness, the ef¬
fects of that fire and brimstone with which Sodom
and Gomorrah were destroyed in Abraham’s time,
whose ruins lie buried in the bottom of this dead
water, which never either was moved itself, or had
any living thing in it.
2. The southern border was that of the land of
Canaan in general as will appear by comparing v.
1**4. with Numb. 34. 3- *5. So that this power¬
ful and warlike tribe of Judah guarded the frontiers
of the whole land, on that side which lay toward
their old sworn enemies, (though their two fathers
were twin-brethren,) the Edomites. Our Lord
therefore, who sprang out of Judah, and whose
the kingdom is, shall judge the mount of Esau,
Obad. 21.
3. The northern border divided it from the lot
of Benjamin. In this, mention is made of the stone
of Bohan a Reubenite, v. 6. who, probably, was a
great commander of those forces of Reuben that
came over Jordan, and died in the camp at Gilgal,
and was buried not far off under this stone. The
valley of Achor likewise lies under this border, v. 7.
to remind the men of Judah of the trouble which
Achan, one of their tribe, gave to the congregation of
Israel, that they might not be too much lifted up with
their services. This northern line touched close upon
Jerusalem, v. 8. so close as to include in the lot of
this tribe, mount Zion and mount Moriah, though
the greater part of the city lay in the lot of Ben¬
jamin.
4. The west border went near to the great sea at
first, v. 12. but afterward the lot of the tribe of Dan
took off a good part of Judah’s lot on that side; for
the lot was only to determine between Judah and
Joseph, which should have the north, and which
die south, and not immoveably to fix the border of
either.
Judah’s inhertarce had its boundaries determin¬
ed; though it w s a powerful warlike tribe, and had
a great interest in the other tribes, yet they must
not therefore be left to their own choice, to enlarge
their possessions at pleasure, but must li\ e so as
that their neighbours might live by them. Those
that are placed high, yet must not think to be
placed alone in the midst of the earth.
13. And unto Caleb the son of Jephun
neh he gave a part among the children of
Judah, according to the commandment of
the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba
the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
14. And Caleb drove thence the three sons
of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talnrai.
the children of Anak. 15. And he went up
thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the
name of Debir before teas Kirjath-sepher.
16. And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kir¬
jath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will 1 give
Achsali my daughter to wife. 17. And
Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Ca
leb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his
daughter to wife. 18. And it came to pass,
as she came vnto him , that she moved him to
ask of her father a field : and she lighted off
her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What
wouldest thou? 19. Who answered, Give
me a blessing; for thou hast given me a
south land; give me also springs of water.
And he gave her the upper springs, and the
nether springs.
The historian seems pleased with every occasion
to make mention of Caleb, and to do him honour,
because he had honoured God in following him full v.
The grant Joshua made him of the mountain of He¬
bron for his inheritance is here repeated, v. 13.
And it is said to be given him, 1. According to the
command of the Lord to Joshua. Though Caleb, in
his petition, had made out a very good title to it by
promise, yet because God had ordered Joshua to di¬
vide the land by lot, he would not in this one single
instance, no not to gratify his old friend Caleb, do
otherwise, without orders from God, whose oracle,
it is probable, he consulted upon this occasion. In
every doubtful case it is very desirable to know the
mind of God, and to see the way of our duty plain.
2. It is said to be a part among the children of Ju¬
dah; though it was assigned him before the lot of
the tribe came up, yet it proved, God so directing
the lot, to be in the heart of that tribe, which was
graciously ordered in kindness to him, that he
might not be as one separated from his brethren,
and surrounded by those of other tribes.
Now Caleb having obtained this grant, we are
told,
I. How he signalized- his own valour in the con-
j quest of Hebron, v. 14. He drove thence the three
sons of Anak; he and those that he engaged to ass;st
him in this service. This is mentioned here, to
show that the confidence he had expressed of suc¬
cess in this affair through the presence of God with
; him, ch. 14. 12. did not deceive him, but the event
answered his expectation. It is not said that he slew
! these giants, but he drove them thence, which inti-
j mates that they retired upon his approach, and fled
| before him; the strength and stature of their bodies
! could not keep up the courage of their minds, but,
I with the countenances of lions, thev had the hearts
I of trembling hares. Thus does God often cut off
the spirit of princes, Ps. 76, 12. take awav the heart
| of the chief of the people. Job 12, 24. and so shame
72
JOSHUA, XV.
tne confidence of the proud; and thus if we resist
the devil, that roaring lion, though he fall not, yet
he will flee.
II. How he encouraged the valour of those about
him in the conquest of Debir, v. 15, itfc. It seems,
tnough Joshua had once made himself master of
bebir, c/i. 10. 39. yet the Canaanites had regained
ti.e possession in the absence of the army, so that the
work was to be done a second time ; and when Caleb
had completed the reduction of Hebron, which was
for himself and his own family, to show his zeal for
the public good, as much as for his own private in¬
terest, he pushes on his conquest to Debir, and will
not lay down his arms till he sees that city also ef¬
fectually reduced, which lay but ten miles south¬
ward from Hebron, though he had not any particu¬
lar concern in it, but the reducing of it would be to
the general advantage of his tribe. Let us learn
hence, not to seek and mind our own things only,
but to concern and engage ourselves for the welfare
of the community we are members of; we are not
born for ourselves, nor must we live to ourselves.
1. Notice is taken of the name of this city. It
had been called Kirjath-sefiher, the city of a book,
and Kirjath-sanha, v. 40. which some translate
the city of learning; so the LXX. IIsxk ypa/u/udruv,
whence some conjecture that it had been an uni¬
versity among the Canaanites, like Athens in
Greece, in which their youth were educated; or
perhaps the books of their chronicles or records on
the antiquities of the nation, were laid up there;
and, it may be, this was it that made Caleb so de¬
sirous to see Israel master of this city, that they
might get acquainted with the ancient learning of
the Canaanites.
2. The proffer that Caleb made of his daughter,
and a good portion with her, to any one that would
undert ike to reduce that city, and to command the
forces that should be employed in that service, v.
15. Thus S ml promised a daughter to him that
would kill Goliath, 1 Sam. 17. 25. neither of them
intending to force their daughter to marry such as
they could not love, but both of them presuming
upon their daughter’s obedience, and submission to
their father’s will though it might perhaps be con¬
trary to their own humour or inclination. Caleb’s
family was not only honourable and wealthy, but
religious; he that himself followed the Lord fully,
no doubt, t night his children to do so, and therefore
it could not bat be a desirable match to any young
gentleman. Caleb, in making the proposal, aims,
(1.) To do service to his country by the reducing
of that important place: And, (2.) To marry a
daughter well, to a man of learning, that would
have a particular affection for the city of books, and
a man of war, that would Oe likely to serve his
country and do worthily in his generation. Could
he but marry his child to a man of such a charac¬
ter, he would think her well bestowed, whether
the share in the lot of his tribe were more or less.
3. The place w is bravely taken by Othniel, a
nephew of Caleb’s, whom, probably, Caleb had
thoughts of when he made the proffer, v. 17. This
Othnigl, who thus signalized himself when he was
young, long after, in his advanced years, was led
by the Spirit to be both a deliverer and a judge in
Israel, the first single person that presided in their
affairs after Joshua’s death; it is good for those who
are setting out in the world, to begin betimes with
that which is great and good; that, excelling in
service when they are young, they may excel in
honour when they grow old.
4. Hereupon (all parties being agreed) Othniel
married his cousin-german, Achsali, Caleb’s daugh¬
ter. It is. probable that he had a kindness for her
before, which put him upon this bold undertaking
m obtain her. Love to his country, an ambition of
honour, and a desire to find favour with the princes
of his people, might not have engaged him in this
great action, but his affection for Achsah did, that
made it intolerable to him to think that any one
else should do more to win her favour than he
would, and so inspired him with this generous fire.
Thus is love strong as death, and jealousy cruel as
the grave.
5. Because the historian is now upon the dividing
of the land, he gives us an account of Achsah ’s
portion, which was in land, as more valuable, be¬
cause enjoyed by virtue of the divine promise,
though we may suppose the conquerors of Canaan,
who had had the spoil of so many rich cities, were
full of money too. (1.) Some land she obtained by
Caleb’s free grant, which was allowed while she
married within her own tribe and family, as Zelo-
phehad’s daughter did. He gave her a south land,
v. 19. Land indeed, but a south land, dry, and
apt to be parched. (2. ) She obtained more upon
her request; she would have had her husband to
ask for a field, probably, some particular field, or
champaign ground, which belonged to Caleb’s
lot, and joined to that south land which he had
settled upon his daughter at marriage. She thought
her husband had the best interest in her father,
who, no doubt, was extremely pleased with his late
glorious achievement, but he thought it was more
proper for her to ask, and she would be more
likely to prevail; accordingly she did, submitting to
her husband’s judgment, though contrary to her
own; and she managed the undertaking with great
address. [1.] She took the opportunity when her
father brought her home to the house of her hus¬
band, when the satisfaction of having disposed of
his daughter so well, would make him think nothing
too much to do for her. [2.] She lighted off her
ass, in token of respect and reverence to her fath¬
er, whom she would honour still, as much as before
her marriage. She cried or sighed, from off her ass,
so the LXX. and the vulgar Latin read it, she ex¬
pressed some grief and concern, that she might
give her father occasion to ask her what she want¬
ed. [3.] She calls it a blessing, because it would
add much to the comfort of her settlement; and
she was sure, that since she married, not only with
her father’s consent, but in obedience to his com¬
mand, he would not deny her his blessing. [4. ]
She asks only for the mater, without which the
ground she had would be of little use, either for
tillage or pasture, but she means the field in which
the springs of water were; the modesty and rea¬
sonableness of her request gave it a great advan¬
tage. Earth without water would be like a tree
without sap, or the body of an animal without blood;
therefore when God gathered the waters into one
place, he wisely and graciously left some in every
place, that the earth might be enriched for the
service of man. See Ps. 104. 10, &c. Well,
Achsah gained her point, her father gave her what
she asked, and perhaps more, for he gave her the
u/i/ter springs and the nether springs. Two fields,
so called from the springs that were in them; as we
commonly distinguish between the higher field and
the lower field. Those who understand it but of
one field, watered both with the rain of heaven and
the springs that issued out of the bowels of the
earth, gave countenance to the allusion we com¬
monly make to this, when we pray for spiritual and
heavenly blessings which relate to our souls, as
blessings of the upper springs, and those which re¬
late to the body and the life that now is, as bless
ings of the nether springs.
From this story, we learn, First, That it is no
breach of the tenth commandment, moderately to
desire those comforts and conveniences of this life,
which we see attainable in a fair and regular way.
73
JOSHUA, XV.
Secondly, That husbands and wives should mutually
advise, and jointly agree about that which is for the
common good of their family; and much more
should they concur in asking of their heavenly
Father the best blessings, those of the ufifier
springs. Thirdly , That parents must never think
that lost, which is bestowed upon their children for
their real advantage, but must be free in giving
them portions as well as maintenance, especially
when they are dutiful. Caleb had sons, 1 Chron.
4. 15. and yet gave thus liberally to his daughter.
Those parents forget themselves and their rela¬
tions, who grudge their children what is convenient
for them, when they can conveniently part with it.
20. This is the inheritance of the tribe
of the children of Judah according to their
families. 21. And the uttermost cities of
the tribe of the children of Judah, toward
the coast of Edom southward, were Kab-
zeel, and Eder, and Jagur, 22. And Kinah,
and Dimonah, and Adadah, 23. And Ke-
desh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, 24. Ziph,
and Telem, and Bealoth, 25. And Hazor,
Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which
is Hazor, 26. Amam, and Shema, and
Moladah, 27. And Hazar-gaddah, and
Heshmon, and Beth-palet, 28. And Hazar-
shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah, 29.
Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, 30. And
Eltolad, and Cliesil, and Hormah, 31.
And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and San-
sannah, 32. And Lebaoth, and Shilhim,
and Ain, and Rimmon : all the cities are
twenty and nine, with their villages : 33.
And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah,
and Ashnah, 34. And Zanoah, and En-
gannim, Tappuah, and Enam, 35. Jar-
muth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36. And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Ge-
derah, and Gederothaim ; fourteen cities
with their villages : 37. Zenan, and Ha-
dashah, and Migdal-gad, 38. And Dilean,
and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, 39. Lachish,
and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40. And Cab-
bon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, 41. And
Gederolh, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and
Makkedah ; sixteen cities with their vil¬
lages: 42. Libnah,and Ether, and Ashan,
43. And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
44. And Keilah, and Achzib, and Ma-
reshah ; nine cities with their villages. 45.
Ekron with her towns and her villages:
46. From Ekron even unto the sea, all that
lay near Ashdod, with their villages : 47.
Ashdod with her towns and her villages,
Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto
the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and
the border thereof: 48. And in the moun¬
tains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, 49.
And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which
is Debir, 50. And Anab, and Eshtemoh,
and Anim, 51. And Goshen, and Holon,
Yol. ii. — K
and Giloh ; eleven cities with their villages :
52. Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, 53.
And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphe-
kah, 54. And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba
(which is Hebron,) and Zior ; nine cities
with their villages: 55. Maon, Carmel,
and Ziph, and Juttah, 56. And Jezreel,
and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57. Cain,
Gibeah, and Timnah ; ten cities with their
villages : 58. Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,
59. And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and
Eltekon ; six cities with their villages : 60.
Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim,) and
Rabbah ; two cities with their villages : 61.
In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin,
and Secacah, 62. And Nibshan, and the
city of Salt, and En-gedi ; six cities with
their villages. 63. As for the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of
Judah could not drive them out: but the
Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah
at Jerusalem unto this day.
We have here a list rf the several cities that fell
within the lot of the tribe of Judah, which are men¬
tioned by name, that they might know their own,
and both keep it, and keep to it, and might, neither
through cowardice nor sloth, lose the possession of
what was their own, nor through covetousness, seek
the possession of what was not their own. The
cities are here named, and numbered in several
classes, which they then could account for the rea¬
son of, better than we can now. Here are, 1. Some
that are said to be the uttermost cities toward the
coast of Eden , v. 21* *32. Here are thirty-eight
named, and yet said to be twenty-nine, v. 32. be¬
cause nine cf these were afterward transferred to
the lot of Simeon, and are reckoned as belonging to
that, as appears by comparing ch. 19. 2, Zjfc. there¬
fore those only are counted, (though the rest are
named,) which remained to Judah. 2. Others that
are said to be in the valley, v. 33. are counted to be
fourteen, yet fifteen are named; but it is probable,
that Gederah, and Gederothaim were either two
names, or two parts, of one and the same city. 3.
Then sixteen are named without any head of dis¬
tinction, v. 37* *41. and nine mere, 42.. 44. 4.
Then the three Philistine cities, Ekron, Ashdod,
and Gaza, v. 45.. 47. 5. Cities in the mountains ,
eleven in all, v. 48* *51. nine more, v. 52* *54. ten
more, v. 55* -57. six more, v. 58, 59. then two, v.
CO. and six in the wilderness, a part cf the country
not so thick of inhabitants as some others were.
Now here, (1.) We do not find Bethlehem,
which was afterward the city cf David, and was
ennobled by the birth of our Lord Jesus in it. But
that city, which at the best was but little among the
thousands of Judah, Mic. 5. 2. except that it was
thus dignified, was now so little as not to be ac¬
counted one of the cities, but perhaps was one of
the villages not named. Christ came to give
honour to the places he was related to, not to re¬
ceive honour from them. (2.) Jerusalem is said to
continue in the hands of the Jebusites, v. 63, for
the children of Judah could not drive them out,
through their sluggishness, stupidity and unbelief;
had they attempted it with vigour and resolution,
we have reason to think God would not have been
wanting to them, to give them success; but they
could not do it, because they would not. Jerusalem
was afterward to be the holy city, the royal city,
74
JOSHUA, AVI
the city of the great King, the brightest ornament
of all the land of Israel, God had designed it should
be so. It may therefore be justly looked upon as a
punishment of their neglect to conquer other cities
which God had given them, that they were so long
kept out of this.
Among the cities of Judah (in all one hundred
and fourteen) we meet with Libnah, which in Jo-
ram’s days revolted, and probably set up for a free
independent state, 2 Kings 8. 22. and Lachish,
where king Amaziah was slain, 2 Kings 14. 19. it
led the dance in idolatry, Mic. 1. 13. it was the be¬
ginning of sin to the daughter of Sion. Giloh,
Ahitophei’s town, is here mentioned, and Tekoa,
of which the prophet Amos was, and near which
Jehoshaphat obtained that glorious victory, 2
Chron. 20. 20, Itfc. and Maresha, where Asa was
a conqueror. Many of the cities of this tribe occur
in the history of David’s troubles. Adullam, Ziph,
Kellah, Maon, En-gedi, Ziklag, were places here
reckoned in this tribe, near which David had most
of his haunts; for though sometimes Saul drove
him out from the inheritance of the Lord, yet he
kept as close to it as he could. The wilderness of
Judah he frequented much, and in it John Baptist
preached, and there the kingdom of heaven com¬
menced, Matt. 3. 1. The riches of this country,
no doubt, answered Jacob’s blessing of this tribe,
that he should wash his garments in wine, Gen. 49.
11. And in general, Judah, thou art he whom thy
brethren should praise, not envy.
CHAP. XVI.
It is a pity that this and the following chapter should be
separated, for both of them give us the lot of the chil¬
dren of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, who, next to
Judah, were to have the post of honour, and there¬
fore had the first and best portion in the northern
part of Canaan, as Judah now had in the southern part,
in this chapter, we have, I. A general account of the lot
of these two tribes together, v. 1..4. II. The borders
of the lot of Ephraim in particular, v. 5. . 10. That of
Manasseh following in the next chapter.
1. 4 NO the lot of the children of Joseph
f\ fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the
water of Jericho on the east, to the wilder¬
ness that goeth up from Jericho throughout
mount Beth-el, 2. And goeth out from
Beth-el to Luz, and passeth along unto the
borders of Archi to Ataroth, 3. And goeth
down westward to the coast of Japhleti,
unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and
to Gezer : and the goings out thereof are at
the sea. 4. So the children of Joseph,
Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inherit¬
ance.
Though Joseph was one of the younger sons of
Jacob, yet he was his eldest by his most just and best
beloved wife, Rachel; was himself his best beloved
son, and had been the greatest ornament and sup¬
port of his family, kept it from perishing in a time
of famine, and had been the shepherd and stone o f
Israel, and therefore his posterity were very much
favoured by the lot. Their portion lay in the very
heart of the land of Canaan. It extended from
Jordan in the east, v. 1. to the sea, the Mediterra¬
nean sea, in the west, so that it took up the whole
breadth of Canaan from side to side; and, no ques¬
tion, the fruitfulness of the soil answered the bless¬
ings both of Jacob and Moses, Gen. 49. 25, 26.
and Deut. 33. 13, itfc.
The portions allotted to Ephraim and Manas I
sell are nut so particularly described as thoso ot i
|| the other tribes; we have only the limits and boun
daries of them, not the particular cities in them, as
before we had of the cities of Judah, and after¬
ward those of the other tribes. For which no rea¬
son can be assigned, unless we may suppose that
Joshua, being himself of the children of Joseph,
they referred it to him alone to distribute among
them the several cities that lay within their
lot, and therefore did not bring in the names of
their cities to the great council of their princes
which sat upon this affair; by which means it came
to pass that they were not inserted with the rest in
the books.
5. And the border of the children of
Ephraim, according to their families, was
thus; even the border of their inheritance
on the east side was Ataroth-addar, unto
Beth-horon the upper : 6. And the border
went out toward the sea to Michmethah, on
the north side ; and the border went about
eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed
by it on the east to Janohah : 7. And it
went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and
to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went
out at Jordan. 8. The border went out
from Tappuah westward unto the liver Ka-
nah ; and the goings out thereof were at the
sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of
the children of Ephraim by their families.
9. And the separate cities for the children
of Ephraim were among the inheritance of
the children of Manasseh, all the cities with
their villages. 10. And they drave notout
the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer ; but the
Canaanites dwell among the Ephrai mites
unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Here,
1. The border of the lot of Ephraim is set down,
by which it was divided on the south from Ben¬
jamin and Dan, who lay between it and Judah,
and on the north from Manasseh; for east and
west it reached from Jordan to the great sea. The
learned, who aim to be exact in drawing the line
according to the directions here, find themselves
very much at a loss, the description here being short
and intricate. The report of those who in these
latter ages have travelled those countries, will not
serve to clear the difficulties, so vastly unlike is it
now to what it was then; not only cities have been
so destroyed, as that no mark or footstep of them
remains, but brooks are dried up, rivers alter their
courses, and even the mountain falling cometh to
naught, and the rock is removed out of his place.
Job. 14. 18. Unless I could hope to solve the
doubts that arise upon this draught of the border of
Ephraim, it is to no purpose to mention them;
no doubt, they were then perfectly understood, so
as that the first intention of recording them was ef¬
fectually answered, which was to notify the ancient
landmarks, which posterity must by no means re¬
move.
2. Some separate cities are sprken of, that lav not
within these borders, at least, not if the line were
drawn direct, but lay within the let of Manasseh,
v. 9. which might better be read, and there were
separate citiesfor the children of Ephraim, among the
inheritance of the children of Manasseh ; because
I .it proved that Manasseh could sp ire them, and
i Ephraim had need of them, and it might be hoped
JOSHUA, XVH.
that no inconvenience would arise from this mixtui'e
of these two tribes together, who were both the
sons of Joseph, and should love as brethren. And
by this it appears, that though when the tribes were
numbered in the plains of Moab, Manasseh had got
the start of Ephraim in number, for Manasseh was
then fifty-two thousand, and Ephraim but thirty-
two thousand, Numb. 26. 34, 37. yet by the time
they were well settled in Canaan, the hands were
crossed again, and the blessing of Moses was veri¬
fied, Deut. 33. 17, They are the ten thousands of
Efihraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
Families and kingdoms are diminished and increas¬
ed, increased and diminished again, as God pleases.
3. A .brand is put upon the Ephraimites, that
they did not drive out the Canaanites from Gezer,
x1. iO. Either through carelessness or cowardice,
either for want of faith in the promise of God, that j
he would give them success if they would make a
vigorous effort, or for want of zeal for the command
of God, which obliged them utterly to drive out
the Canaanites, and to make no peace with them.
And though they hoped to satisfy the law by put¬
ting them under tribute, yet (as Calvin thinks)
that made the matter worse, for it shows that they
spared them out of covetousness, that they might
be profited by their labours, and by dealing with
them for their tribute they were in danger of being
infected with their idolatry; yet some think, when
they brought them under tribute, they obliged them
to renounce their idols, and to observe the seven
precepts of the sons of Noah; and I should think so,
but that we find in the sequel of the story, that the
Israelites were so far from restraining idolatry in
others, that they soon fell into it themselves.
Many famous places were within this lot of the
tribe of Ephraim, though not mentioned here. In
it were Ramah, Samuel’s city, called in the New
Testament, Arimathea, of which Joseph was, that
look care of our Saviour’s burial, and Shiloh,
where the tabernacle was first set up. Tirzah, also,
(.he royal city of Jeroboam and his successors, and
Deborah’s palm-tree, under which she judged Is¬
rael, were in this tribe. Samaria, built by Omri,
after the burning of the royal palace of Tirzah, was
in this tribe, and was long the royal city of the king¬
dom of the ten tribes ; not far from it were She- j
chem, and the mountains Ebal and Gerizim, and
Svchar, near which was Jacob’s well, where Christ
talked with the woman of Samaria. We read much
of mount Ephraim in the story of the Judges, and of
a city called Efihraim , it is probable in this tribe,
to which Christ retired, John 1 1. 54. The whole
kingdom of the ten tribes is often in the prophets,
especially in Hosea, called Efihraim.
CHAP. XVII.
The half-tribe of Manasseh comes next to be provided for;
and here we have, I. The families of that tribe that were
to be portioned, v. 1..6. II. The country that fell to
their lot, v. 7 . . 13. III. The joint request of the two
tribes that descended from Joseph, for the enlargement
of their lot, and Joshua’s answer to that request, v. 14 . . ,
18.
1 . *T*HERE was also a lot for the tribe of
aL Manasseh, for he was the first-born
of Joseph ; to wit , for Machir the first-born
of Manasseh, the father of Gilead ; because
he was a man of war, therefore he had Gi¬
lead and Bashan. 2. There was also a
Jot for the rest of the children of Manas¬
seh by their families ; for the children of
Abiezer, and for the children of Helek,and
for the children of Asriel, and for the chil-
75
dren of Shechem, and for the children of
Hepher, and for the children of Shemida:
these were the male children of Ma¬
nasseh the son of Joseph by their fa¬
milies. 3. But Zelophehad, the son of
Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of
Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons,
but daughters : and these are the names of
his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah,_
Milcah, and Tirzah. 4. And they came
near before Eleazar the priest, and before
Joshua the son of Nun, and before the prin¬
ces, saying, The Lord commanded Moses
to give us an inheritance among our breth¬
ren. Therefore, according to the com¬
mandment of the Lord, he gave them an
inheritance among the brethren of their fa¬
ther. 5. And there fell ten portions to Ma¬
nasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Ba¬
shan, which were on the other side Jordan ;
6. Because the daughters of Manasseh had
an inheritance among his sons : and the
rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of
Gilead.
Manasseh was itself but one half of the tribe of
Joseph, and yet was divided and subdivided.
1. It was divided into two parts, one already set¬
tled on the other side Jordan, consisting of those
who were the posterity of Machir, v. 1. This Ma¬
chir was born to Manasseh in Egypt, there he
had signalized himself as a man of war, probably,
in the contest between the Ephraimites and the
men of Gath, 1 Chron. 7. 21. His warlike disposi¬
tion descended to his posterity, and therefore Moses
gave them Gilead and Bashan, on the other side
Jordan, of which before, ch. 13. 31. It is here said,
that the lot came to Manasseh, for he was the first¬
born of Joseph. Bishop Patrick thinks it should be
translated, though he was the first-born of Joseph,
and then the meaning is plain, that the second lot
was for Manasseh, because, though he was the
first-born, yet Jacob had preferred Ephraim be¬
fore him. See the names of those heads of the fa¬
milies that settled on the other side Jordan, 1
Chron. 5. 24.
2. That part on this side Jordan was subdivided
into ten families, v. 5. There were six sons of
Gilead here named, v. 2. the same that are record¬
ed, Numb. 26. 30. 32. only that he who is there
called Jeezer, is here called" Abiezer; five of these
sons had each of them a portion, the sixth, which
was Hepher, had his male line cut off in his son
Zelophehad, who left daughters only, five in num¬
ber, of whom we have often read, and these five
had each of them a portion; though perhaps they
claiming under Hepher, all the'r five portions were
but equal to one of the portions of the five sons. Or if
Hepher had other sons beside Zelophehad, in whom
the name of his family was kept up, their posterity
married to the daughters of Zelophehad the elder
brother, and in their right had these portions as¬
signed them. See Numb. 36. 12.
Here is, (1.) The claim which the daughters of
Zelophehad made, grounded upon the commands
God gave to Moses concerning them, v. 4. They
had themselves, when they were young, pleaded
their own cause before Moses, and obtained the
grant of an inheritance with their brethren, and
now they would not lose the benefit of th_t grant
76
JOSHUA, XVII.
tor want of speaking to Joshua, but seasonable
put in their demand themselves, as it should seem,
and not their husbands for them. (2.) The assign¬
ment of their portions according to their claim ;
Joshua knew very well what God had ordered in
their case, and did not object, that they having net
served in the wars of Canaan, there was no reason
why they should share in the possessions of Ca¬
li ian, but readily gave them an inheritance among
the brethren of their father. And now they reaped
the benefit of their own pious zeal and prudent
forecast in this matter. Thus they who take care
in the wilderness of this world, to make sure to
themselves a place in the inheritance of the saints
in l.ght, will certainly have the comfort of it in the
other world, while those that neglect it now, will
lose it for ever.
7. And the coast of Manasseh was from
Asher to Miehmethah, that lieth before She-
chem ; and the border went along on the
right hand unto the inhabitants of En-tap-
puah. 8. Now Manasseh had the land of
Tappuah: but Tappuah, on the border of
Manasseh, belonged to the children of
Ephraim. 9. And the coast descended unto
the river Kanah, southward of the river:
these cities of Ephraim are among the cities
of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also
was on the north side of the river, and the
out-goings of it were at the sea: 10. South¬
ward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it
was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border ;
and they met together in Asher on the
north, and in Issachar on the east. 11.
And Manasseh had in Issachar, and in
Asher, Beth-shean and her towns, and lb-
leam and her towns, and the inhabitants of
Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of
En-dor and her towns, and the inhabitants
of Taanach and her towns, and the inha¬
bitants of Megiddo and her towns, even
three countries. 12. Yet the children of
Manasseh could not drive out the inhabit¬
ants of those cities; but the Canaanites
would dwell in that land. 13. Yet it came
to pass, when the children of Israel were
waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites
to tribute ; but did not utterly drive them
out. _
We have here a short account of the lot of this
half-tribe. It reached from Jordan on the east, to
the great sea on the west, on the south it lay all
along contiguous to Ephraim, but on the north it
abutted upon Asher and Issachar ; Asher lay north¬
west, and Issachar north-east, which seems to be
the meaning of that, v. 10. that they (that is, Ma¬
nasseh, and Ephraim as related to it, both together
making the tribe of Joseph) met in Asher on the
north, and Issachar on the east, for F,phraim itself
reached not those tribes.
Some things are particularly observed concerning
this lot:
1. That there was great communication between
this tribe and that of Ephraim. The city of Tap¬
puah belonged to Ephraim, but the country adjoin¬
ing to Manasseh, v. 8. there were likewise many
cities of Ephraim, that lay within the border of Ma
nasseh, v. 9. of which before, ch. 16. 9.
2. That Manasseh likewise had cities with their
appurtenances in the tribes of Issachar and Ash¬
er, v. 11. God so ordering it, that though each
tribe had its peculiar inheritance, which might not
be alienated from it, yet they should thus intermix
one with another, to keep up mutual acquaintance
and correspondence between the tribes, and to give
occasion for the doing of good offices one to anoth¬
er, as became those, who, though of different
tribes, were all one Israel, and were bound to love
as brethren.
3. That they suffered the Canaanites to live
among them, contrary to the command of God, ser¬
ving their own ends by conniving at them, for they
made them tributaries, v. 12, 13. The Ephraim-
ites had done the same, ch. 16. 10, and from them
perhaps the Man<;ssites learned it, and with their
example excused themselves in it.
The most remarkable person of this half-tribe in
after time, was Gideon, whose great actions were
done within this lot. He was of the family of Abie-
zer; Cesai’ea was in this lot, and Antipatris, famed
in the latter ages of the Jewish state.
14. And the children of Joseph spake
unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given
me but one lot and one portion to inherit,
seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as
the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? 15.
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a
great people, then get thee up to the wood
country , and cut down for thyself there in
the land of the Perizzites and of the giants,
if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
16. And the children of Joseph said, The
hill is not enough for us : and all the Ca¬
naanites that dwell in the land of the valley
have chariots of iron, both they who are of
Beth-shean and her towns, and they who
are of the valley of Jezreel. 1 7. And Josh
ua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to
Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou
art a great people, and hast great power ;
thou shalt not have one lot only : 1 8. But
the mountain shall be thine ; for it is a wood,
and thou shalt cut it down : and the outgo¬
ings of it shall be thine : for thou shalt drive
out the Canaanites, though they have iron
chariots, and though they be strong.
Here,
I. The children of Joseph quarrel with their lot;
if they had had any just cause to quarrel with it, we
have reason to think Joshua would have relieved
them, by adding to it, or altering it, which it dees
not appear he did. It is probable, because Joshua
was himself of the tribe of Ephraim, they promised
themselves that they should have some particular
favour showed them, and should not be confined to
the decision of the lot so closely as the other tribes;
but Joshua makes them know that in the discharge
of his office, as a public person, he had no more re¬
gard to his own tribe than to any other, but would
administer impartially, without favour or affection;
wherein he has left an excellent example to all in
public trusts! It was a very competent provision
that was made for them, as much, for aught that
appears, as they were able to manage, and yet they
call it in disdain but one lot, as if that which was
JOSHUA, XVIII. 77
assigned to them both, was scarcely sufficient for
one. The word for com/ilainers (Jude 16.) is
blamers of their lot, like the children
of Joseph, who would have that altered, the dispo¬
sal whereof is from the Lord. Two things they
suggest, to enforce their petition for an augmenta¬
tion of their lot. 1. That they were very nume¬
rous, through the blessing of God upon them, v. 14,
lam a great people, for the Lord has blessed me;
and we have reason to hope that he that hath sent
mouths, will send meat. “/ am a great people,
and in so small a lot shall not have room to thrive.”
Yet, observe, when they speak thankfully of their
present increase, they do not speak confidently of
the continuance of it; “the Lord has blessed me
hitherto, however he may see fit to deal with me
for the future.” The uncertainty of what may be,
must not make us unthankful for what has been,
and is done in kindness to us. 2. That a good part
of that country which was now fallen to their lot,
was in the hands of the Canaanites, and that they
were formidable enemies, who brought into the field
of battle chariots of iron, v. 16. that is, chariots with
long scythes fastened to the sides of them, or the
axle-tree, which made great destruction of all that
came in their way, mowing them down like com.
They urge, that though they had a good portion
assigned them, yet it was in bad hands, and they
could not come to the possession of it, wishing to
have their lot in those countries that were more
thoroughly reduced than this Avas.
II. Joshua endeavours to reconcile them to their
lot, he owns they were a great people, and being
two tribes, ought to have more than one lot only, v.
17. but tells them, that what was fallen to their
share, would be a sufficient lot to them both, if they
would but work and fight. They desired a lot in
which they might indulge themselves in ease and
luxury; “No,” says Joshua, “you must not count
upon that; in the sweat of thy face shall thou eat
bread, is a sentence in force, even in Canaan itself.”
He retorts their own argument, that they were a
great people, “ If so, you are the better able to help
yourselves, and have the less reason to expect help
from others. If thou hast many mouths to be fill¬
ed, thou hast twice as many hands to be employed;
earn, and then eat.”
1, He bids them work for more, v. 15. Get
thee up to the wood-country , which is within thy
own border, and let all hands be set on work to cut
down the trees, rid the rough lands, and make
them, with art and industry, good arable ground.
Note, Many wish for large possessions, who do not
cultivate and make the best of what they have,
think they should have more talents given them,
who do not trade with those with which they are
entrusted. Most people’s poverty is the effect of
their idleness ; would they dig, they need not beg.
2. He bids them fight for more, v. 17, 18. when
they pleaded that they could not come at the wood¬
lands he spoke of, because in the valley between
them and it, there were Canaanites whom they
durst not enter the list with. “ Never fear them,”
said Joshua, “thou hast God on thy side, and thou
shalt drive out the Canaanites, if thou wilt set
about it in good earnest, though they have iron cha¬
riots.” We straiten ourselves by apprehending the
difficulties in the way of our enlargement to be
greater than really they are. What can be insu¬
perable to faith and holy resolution?
CHAP. XVIII.
In this chapter we have, I. The setting up of the taberna¬
cle at Shiloh, v. 1. II. The stirring up of the seven
tribes that were yet unsettled, to look after their lot,
and the putting oi them in a method for it, by Joshua, v.
1..1. Ill T?ie distributing of the land into seven lots,
by certain men employed for that purpose, v. 8, 9. IV.
The determining of these seven portions to the seven
tribes yet unprovided for by lot, v. 10. V. The particu¬
lar lot of the tribe of Benjamin, the borders of it, v. 11 . .
20. And the cities contained in it, v. 21 . . 28. The
other six tribes we shall find well provided for in the
next chapter.
1. 4 ND the whole congregation of the
.TjL children of Israel assembled together
at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the
congregation there. And the land was
subdued before them.
In the midst of the story of the dividing of the
land, comes in this account of the setting up the ta¬
bernacle, which had hitherto continued in its old
place in the centre of their camp; but now that
three of the four squadrons that used to surround it
in the wilderness, were broken and diminished,
those of Judah, Ephraim, and Reuben, by the re¬
moval of those tribes to their respective possessions,
and that of Dan only remained entire, it was time
to think of removing the tabernacle itself into a city.
Many a time the priests and Le\ites had taken it
down, carried it, and set it up again in the wilder¬
ness, according to the directions given them.
Numb. 4. 5, &c. but now they must do it for good
and all, not one of the stakes thereof must any more
be removed, nor any of the cords thereof broken,
Isa. 33. 20. Observe,
1. The place to which the tabernacle was remov¬
ed, and in which it was set up. It was Shiloh, a
city in the lot of Ephraim, but lying close upon the
lot of Benjamin. Doubtless, God himself did some
way or other direct them to this place, for he had
romised to choose the place where he would make
is name to dwell, Deut. 12. 11. It is most proba¬
ble, God made known his mind in this matter by
the judgment of Urim. This place was pitched
upon, (1.) Because it was in the heart of the coun¬
try, nearer the centre than Jerusalem was, and
therefore the more com enient for the meeting of
all Israel there from the several parts of the coun¬
try; it had been in the midst of their camp in the
wilderness, and therefore must now be in the midst
of their nation, as that which sanctifieth the whole,
and was the glory in the midst of them. See Ps.
46. 5. (2. ) Because it was in the lot of that tribe
of which Joshua was, who was now their chief ma¬
gistrate, and it would be both for his honour and
convenience, and for the advantage of the country,
to have it near him. The testimony of Israel and
the thrones of judgment do well together, Ps. 122.
4, 5. (3.) Some think there was an eye to the
name of the place, Shiloh being the name by which
the Messiah was known, in dying Jacob’s prophecy,
Gen. 49. 10. which prophecy, no doubt, was well
known among the Jews; the settingup of the taber¬
nacle in Shiloh gave them a hint, that in that
Shiloh, whom Jacob spoke of, all the ordinances of
this worldly sanctuary should have their accom¬
plishment in a greater and more perfect tabernacle,
Heb. 9. 1, 11. And Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the
place where the tabernacle was set up, was there¬
fore called Shiloh, because of the peaceableness of
the land at this time; as afterward in Salem was his
temple, which also signifies peaceable.
2. The solemn manner of doing it. The vihole
congregation assembled together to attend the so¬
lemnity, to do honour to the ark of God, as the token
of his presence, and to bid it welcome to its settle¬
ment. Every Israelite was interested in it, and
therefore all testified their joy and satisfaction upon
this occasion. See 2 Sam. 6. 15. It is probable,
those tribes that were yet encamped when the ta
bemacle was removed to Shiloh, decamped from
JOSHUA, XVIII.
78
Gilgal, and pitched about Shiloh, for every Israel¬
ite will desire to fix there where God’s tabernacle
fixes. Mention is made, on ftiis occasion, of the
land’s being subdued before them, to intimate, that
the country, hereabouts at least, being thoroughly
reduced, they met with no opposition, nor were
they apprehensive of any danger, but thought it
time to make this grateful acknowledgment of
God’s goodness to them in the constant series of
successes with which he had blessed them. It was
a good presage of a comfortable settlement to them¬
selves in Canaan, when their first care was to see
the ark well settled, as soon as they had a safe
place ready to settle it in. Here the'ark continued
about three hundred years, till the sins of Eli’s
house forfeited the ark, lost it, and ruined Shiloh,
and its ruins were long after made use of as warn¬
ings to Jerusalem; Go, see what I did to Shiloh,
Jer. 7. 12. Ps. 78. 60.
2. And there remained among the chil¬
dren of Israel seven tribes which had not
yet received their inheritance. 3. And Josh¬
ua said unto the children of Israel, How
long are ye slack to go to possess the land
which the Lord God of your fathers hath
given you ? 4. Give out from among you
three men for each tribe: and I will send
them, and they shall rise and go through the
land, and describe it, according to the inhe¬
ritance of them ; and they shall come again
to me. 5. And they shall divide it into seven
parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on
the south, and the house of Joseph shall
abide in their coasts on the north. 6. Ye
shall therefore describe the land into seven
parts, and bring the description hither to me,
that I may cast lots for you here before the
Lord our God. 7. But the Levites have
no part among you ; for the priesthood of
the Lord is their inheritance : and Gad, and
Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh,
have received their inheritance beyond Jor¬
dan on the east, which Moses the servant
of the Lord gave them. 8. And the men
arose, and went away : and Joshua charged
them that went to describe the land, saying,
Go and walk through the land, and describe
it, and come again to me, that I may here
cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh.
9. And the men went, and passed through
the land, and described it by cities, into
seven parts, in a book, and came again to
Joshua to the host at Shiloh. 10. And Josh¬
ua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the
Lord : and there Joshua divided the land
unto the children of Israel, according to their
divisions.
Here,
I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet
unsettled, that they did not bestir themselves to
gain a settlement in the land which God had given
them. Seven tribes were yet unprovided for: though
sure of an inheritance, yet uncertain where it should
be, and, it seems, in no great care about it, v. 2.
and with them Joshua reasons, v. 3, How long are
ye slack ? 1. They were too well pleased with their
present condition, liked well enough to In e in a
body together, the more the merr.er, and, like the
Babel-builders, had no mind to be scattered abroad,
and break good company. The spoil of the cities
they had taken, served them to live plentifully upon
for the present, and they banished the thoughts of
time to come. Perhaps, the tribes cf Judah and
Joseph, who had already received their inheritance
in the countries next adjoining, were generous in
entertaining their brethren, who were yet unpro¬
vided for, so that they went from one good house to
another among their friends, with which, instead of
grudging that they were postponed, they were so
well pleased, that they cared not of going to houses
of their own. 2. They were slothful and dilatory;
it may be, they wished the thing done, but hau not
spirit to stir in it, or move toward the doing of ft,
though it was so much for their own advantage; like
the sluggard, that hides his hand in his bosom, and
it grieves him to bring it to his mouth again. The
countries that remained to be divided, lay at a dis¬
tance, and some parts of them in the hands of the
Canaanites. If they go to take possession of them,
the cities must be rebuilt or repaired, they must
drive their flocks and herds a great way, and carry
their wi\ es and children to strange places, and this
will not be done without care and pains, and break¬
ing through some hardships; thus, He that observes
the wind, shall not sow; and he that regards the
clouds shall not reap, Eccl. 11. 4. Note, Many are
diverted from real duties, and debarred from real
comforts, by seeming difficulties. Gcd by his grace
has given us a title to a good land, the heavenly Ca¬
naan, but we are slack to take possession, we enter
not into that rest, as we might, by faith, and hope,
and holy joy; we live not in heaven, as we might,
by setting our affections on things above, and hav¬
ing our conversation there. How long shall it be
thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our
own light, and forsake our own mercies for lying
vanities? Joshua was sensible of the inconveniences
of this delay, that while they neglected to take pos¬
session of the land that was conquered, the Canaan¬
ites were recovering strength and spirit, and
fortifying themselves in the places that were yet in
their hands, which would make the total expulsion
of them the more difficult. They would lose their
advantages by not following their blow; and there¬
fore as an eagle stirreth up her nest, so Joshua stirs
them up to take possession of their lot. He is ready
to do his part, if they will but do their’s.
II. He puts them in a way to settle themselves
1. The land that remained must be surveyed, a)
account taken of the cities, and the territories be
longing to them, v. 4. These must be divided into
seven equal parts, as near as they could guess at
their true value, which they must have an eye to,
and not only to the number of the cities, and extent
of the country. Judah is fixed on the south, and
Joseph on the north, of Shiloh, to protect the taber¬
nacle, v. 5. and therefore they need not describe
their country, but those countries only that were
yet undisposed of. He gives a reason, v. 7. why
they must divide it into seven parts only, becausp
the Levites were to have no temporal estate, ( a.‘
we say,) but their benefices only, which were en
tailed upon their families. The priesthood of tht
Lord is their inheritance, and a very honourable,
comfortable, plentiful inheritance it was. Gad and
Reuben, with half of the tribe of Manasseh, were
already fixed, and needed not to have any further
care taken of them. Now, (1.) The surveyors
were three men out of each of the seven tribes that
were to be provided for, v. 4. one-and-twenty in all,
who, perhaps, for greater expedition, because they
had already lost time, divided themselves into three
79
JOSHUA, XVIII.
companies, one of each tribe m each company,
and took each their district to survey. The mat¬
ter was thus referred equally, that there might be
neither any partiality used in making up the seven
lots, nor any umbrage or suspicion given, but all
might be satisfied that they had right done them.
(2. ) The survey was accordingly made, and brought
in to Joshua, v. 8, 9. Josephus says it was seven
months in the doing. Ana we must in it observe,
[1.] The faith and courage of the persons employ¬
ed, abundance of Canaanites remained in the land,
and all raging against Israel, as a bear robbed of her
whelps, the business of these surveyors would soon
be known, and what could they expect but to be
waylaid, and have their brains knocked out by the
fierce observers? But, in obedience to Joshua’s
command, and in dependence upon God’s power,
they thus put their lives in their hands to serve
their country. [2. ] The good providence of God
in protecting them from the many deaths they were
exposed to, and bringing them all safe again to the
host at Shiloh. When we are in the wav of our
duty, we ait; under the special protection of the
Almighty.
2. When it was surveyed, and reduced to seven
lots, then Joshua would by appeal to God, and di¬
rection from him, determine which of these lots
should belong to each tribe, v. 6. That I may cast \
lots for you here at the tabernacle (because it was a !
sacred transaction) before the Lord our God, to
whom each tribe must have an eye, with thankful¬
ness for the conveniences, and submission to the in¬
conveniences, of their allotment. What we have
in the world, we mufct acknowledge God’s property ;
in, and dispose of it as before him, with justice and
charity, and dependence upon Providence. The
heavenly Canaan is described to us in a book, the
book of the scriptures, and there are in it mansions
and portions sufficient for all God’s spiritual Israel;
Christ is our Joshua that divides it to us, on him we
must attend, and to him we must apply ourselves,
for an inheritance with the saints in light. See
John 17. 2, 3.
1 1 . And the lot of the tribe of the child¬
ren of Benjamin came up according to their
families : and the coast of their lot came up
forth between the children of Judah and (he
children of Joseph. 12. And their border,
on the north side, was from Jordan : and the
border went up to the side of Jericho on the
north side, and went up through the moun¬
tains westward ; and the goings out thereof
were at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13.
And the border went over from thence to¬
ward Luz, to the side of Luz, (which is
Beth-el,) southward ; and the border de¬
scended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that
lielh on the south side of the nether Beth-
horon. 14. And the border was drawn
thence , and compassed the corner of the sea
southward, from the hill that lieth before
Beth-horon southward; and the goings out
thereof were at Kirjath-baal (which is Kir-
jath-jearim,) a city of the children of Judah :
this was the west quarter. 15. And the
south quarter teas from the end of Kirjath-
jearim ; and the border went out on the
west, and went out to the well of waters of
Nephtoah: 16. And the border came down
! to the end of the mountain that lieth before
the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which
is in the valley of the giants on the north,
and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to
the side of Jebusi on the south, and descend¬
ed to En-rogel, 17. And was drawn from the
north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and
went forth toward Geliloth, which is over
against the going up of Adummim, and de¬
scended to the stone of Bohan the son of
Reuben, 18. And passed along toward the
side over against Arabah northward, and
went down unto Arabah : 1 9. And the bor¬
der passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah
northward: and the outgoings of the border
were at the north bay of the salt sea, at the
south end of Jordan : this was the south coast.
20. And Jordan was the border of it on the
east side. Tins teas the inheritance of the
children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof
round about, according to their families. 21 .
Now the cities of the tribe of the children of
Benjamin, according to their families, were
Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of
Keziz, 22. And Beth-arabah, and Zema-
raim, and Beth-el, 23. And Avim, and Pa-
rah, and Oplnah, 24. And Chephar-haam-
monai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities
with their villages : 25. Gibeon, and Ramah,
and Beeroth, 26. And Mizpeh, and Che-
phirah, and Mozah, 27. And Rekem, and
Irpeel, and Taralah, 28. And Zelah, Eleph,
and Jebusi (which is Jerusalem,) Gibeath,
and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their vil¬
lages. This is the inheritance of the children
of Benjamin, according to their families.
We have here the lot of the tribe of Benjamin,
which Providence cast next to Joseph on the one
hand, because Benjamin was own and only brother
to Joseph, and was little Benjamin, Ps. 68. 27. that
needed the protection of great Joseph, and yet had
a better Protector, for the Lord shall cover him all
the day long, Deut. 33. 12. And next to Judah, on
the other hand, that this tribe might hereafter unite
with Judah in an adherence to the throne of David,
and the temple at Jerusalem. Here we have,
1. The exact borders and limits of this tribe,
which we need not be exact in the explication of; as
it had Judah on the south, and Joseph on the north,
so it had Jordan on the east, and Dan on the west.
The western border is said to compass the corner
of the sea southward, v. 14. whereas no part of the
lot of this tribe came near to the great sea. Bishop
Patrick thinks the meaning is, that it ran along in a
parallel line to the great sea, though at a distance.
Dr. Fuller suggests that since it is not called the
great sea, but only the sea, which often signifies any
lake or mere, it may be meant of the pool of Gibeon,
which may be called a corner or canton of a sea; it
is called the great waters in Gibeon, Jer. 41. 12. and
it is compassed by the western border of this tribe.
2. The particular cities in this tribe, not all, but
the most considerable, twenty-six, are here named.
Jericho is put first, though dismantled, and forbid¬
den to be rebuilt as a city with gates and walls, be¬
cause it might be built and inhabited as a country
BO JOSHUA, XIX.
village, and so was not useless to this tribe. Gilgal
was in this tribe, where Israel first encamped when
Saul was made king, 1 Sam. 11. 14. It was afterward
a very profane place, Flos. 9. 15, All their wicked¬
ness is in Gilgal. Beth-el was in this tribe, a fa¬
mous place; though Benjamin adhered to the house
of David, yet Beth-el, it seems, was in the posses¬
sion of the house of Joseph, Judg. 1.23.. 25. and
there Jeroboam set up one of his calves. Gibeon
was in this tribe, where the altar was in the begin¬
ning of Solomon’s time, 2 Chron. 1. 3. Gibeah like¬
wise, that infamous place, where the Levite’s con-
eubine was abused; Mizpeh, and near it, Samuel’s
Eben-ezer; Anathoth also, Jeremiah’s city, were in
this tribe, as was the northern part of Jerusalem.
Paul was the honour of this tribe, Rom. 11. 1. Phil.
3. 5. but where his land lay, we know not, he sought
the better country.
CHAP. XIX.
In the description of the lots of Judah and Benjamin, we
have an account both of the borders that surrounded
them, and of the cities contained in them. In that of
Ephraim and Manasseh we have the borders, but not the
cities; in this chapter, Simeon and Dan are described by
their cities only, and not their borders, because they lay
very much within Judah, especially the former, the rest
have both their borders described, and their cities named,
especially frontiers. Here is, 1. The lot of Simeon,
v. 1 . . 9. II- Of Zebulun, v. 10. . 16. III. Of Issachar,
v. 17.. 23. IV. Of Asher, v. 24. .31. V. Of Naphta-
li, v. 32 . . 39. VI. Of Dan, v. 40 . . 48. Lastly, the in¬
heritance assigned to Joshua himself and his own fa¬
mily, v. 49 . . 51.
1. A ND the second lot came forth to Si-
meon, even for the tribe of the child¬
ren of Simeon according to their families :
and their inheritance was within the inhe¬
ritance of the children of Judah. 2. And
they had in their inheritance, Beer-sheba or
Sheba, and Moladah, 3. And Hazar-shual,
and Balah, and Azem, 4. And Eltolad, and
Bethul, and Hormah, 5. And Ziklag, and
Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah, 6. And
Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen ; thirteen cities
and their villages : 7. Ain, Remmon, and
Ether, and Ashan ; four cities and their vil¬
lages : 8. And all the villages that were round
about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath
of the south. This is the inheritance of the
tribe of the children of Simeon according to
their families. 9. Out of the portion of the
children of Judah ivas the inheritance of the
children of Simeon ; for the part of the child¬
ren of Judah was too much for them ; there¬
fore the children of Simeon had their inherit¬
ance within the inheritance of them.
Simeon’s lot was drawn after Judah’s, Joseph’s,
and Benjamin’s, because Jacob had put that tribe
under disgrace, yet it is put before the two younger
sons of Leah and the three sons of the hand-maids.
Not one person of note, either judge or prophet,
was of the tribe, that we know of.
1. The situation of their lot was within that of
Judah, -v. 1. and was taken from it, v. 9. It seems,
they that first surveyed the land, thought it larger
than it was, and that it would have held out, to give
every tribe in proportion as large a share as they
had carved out of Judah; but, upon a more strict in¬
quiry, it was found that it would not reach, v. 9, the
fiart of the children of Judah was too much for
them, more than they needed, and more, as it
proved, than fell to their share. Yet God did not
by the lot lessen it, but left it to their prudence and
care afterward to discover and rectify the mistake,
which when they did, (1.) The men of Judah did
not oppose the taking away of the cities again,
which by the first distribution fell within their bor¬
der, when they were convinced that they had more
than their proportion. In all such cases, errors
must be expected, and a review admitted if there
be occasion. Though, in strictness, what fell to
their lot, was their right against all the world, yet
they would not insist upon it, when it appeared that
another tribe would want what they had to spare.
Note, We must look on the things of others, and
not on our own only. The abundance of some must
supply the wants of others, that there may be some¬
thing of an equality, for which there may be equity
where there is not law. (2.) That which was thus
taken off from Judah to be put into a new lot, Pro¬
vidence directed to the tribe of Simeon, that Jacob’s
prophecy concerning this tribe might be fulfilled, I
will divide them in Jacob. The cities of Simeon
were scattered in Judah, with which tribe they
were surrounded, except on that side toward the
sea. This brought them into a confederacy with
the tribe of Judah, Judg. 1. 3. and afterward was a
happy occasion of the adherence of many of this
tribe to the house of David, at the time of the re¬
volt of the ten tribes to Jeroboam, 2 Chron. 15. 9,
out of Simeon they fell to Asa in abundance. It is
good being in a good neighbourhood.
2. The cities within their lot are here named.
Beer-sheba, or Sheba, for they seem to be the same
place, is put first, Ziklag is one of them, which we
read of in David’s story. What course they took to
enlarge their borders and make room for them¬
selves, we find 1 Chron. 4. 39, & c.
10. And the third lot came up for the
children of Zebulun, according to their fa¬
milies: and the border of their inheritance
was unto Sarid : 11. And their border went
up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reach¬
ed to Dabbasheth, and reached to the
river that is before Jokneam; 12. And
turned from Sarid eastward, toward the
sun-rising, unto the border of Chisloth-ta-
bor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and
goeth up to Japhia, 13. And from thence
passeth on along on the east to Gittah-he-
pher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Rem-
mon-melhoar to Neah: 14. And the border
compasseth it on the north side to Hanna-
thon : and the outgoings thereof are in the
valley of Jiphthah-el: 15. And Kattath, and
Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and
Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their vil¬
lages. 16. This is the inheritance of the
children of Zebulun according to their fami¬
lies, these cities with their villages.
•
This is the lot of Zebulun, who, though born of
Leah after Issachar, yet was blessed by Jacob and
Moses before him; and therefore it was so ordered,
that his lot was drawn before that of Issachar’s,
north of which it lay, and south of Asher.
1. The lot of this tribe was washed by the great
sea on the west, and by the sea of Tiberius on the
east, answering Jacob’s prophecy, Gen. 49. 13, Ze¬
bulun shall be a haven of shifis; trading ships on
the great sea, and fishing ships on the sea of Galilee.
2. Though there were some palaces in this tribe
31
JOSHUA, XIX.
which were made famous in the Old Testament,
especially mount Carmel , on which the famous
trial was between God and Baal in Elijah’s time,
yet it was made much more illustrious in the New
Testament, for within the lot of this tribe was Na¬
zareth, where our blessed Saviour spent so much
of his time on earth, and from which he was
called Jesus of Arazareth, and mount Tabor on
which he was transfigured, and that coast of the sea
of Galilee on which Christ preached so many ser¬
mons, and wrought so many miracles.
17. And the fourth lot came out to Issa-
char, for the children of lssachar according
to their families. 1 8. And their border was
toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shu-
nem, 19. And Haphraim, and Shihon, and
Anaharath, 20. And Rabbith, and Kishion,
and Abez, 21. And Remeth, and En-gan-
nim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez ; 22.
And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Sha-
hazimah, and Beth-shemesh ; and the out¬
goings of their border were at Jordan : six¬
teen cities with their villages. 23. This is
the inheritance of the tribe of the children
of lssachar according to their families, the
cities and their villages.
The lot of lssachar ran from Jordan in the east,
to the great sea in the west, Manasseh on the south,
and Zebulun on the north. A numerous tribe,
Numb. 26. 25. Tola, one of the judges, was of this
tribe, Judg. 10. 1. So was Baasha, one of the kings
of Israel, 1 Kings 15. 27. The most considerable
places in this tribe were, 1. Jezreel , in which was
Ahab’s palace, and near it Naboth’s vineyard. 2.
Shunem, where lived the good Shunamite, that en¬
tertained Elisha. 3. The river Kishon, on the
banks of which, in this tribe, Sisera was beaten by
Deborah and Barak. 4. The mountains of Gilboa,
on which Saul and Jonathan were slain, which were
not far from En-dor, where Saul consulted the
witch. 5. The valley of Megiddo, where Josiah
was slain, near Hadad-rimmon, 2 Kings 23. 29.
Zech. 12. 11.
24. And the fifth lot came out for the tribe
of the children of Ash§r according to their
families. 25. And their border was Hel-
kath, and Hah, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26. And Alammelech, and Amad, and Mi- j
sheal ; and reacheth to Carmel westward,
and to Shihor-libnath ; 27. And turncth to¬
ward the sun-rising to Beth-dagon, and
reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of
Jiphthah-el, toward the north side of Beth-
emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul
on the left hand, 28. And Hebron, and Re¬
hob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto
great Zidon ; 29. And then the coast turn-
eth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre ;
and the coast turneth to Hosah; and- the
outgoings thereof are at the sea, from the
coast to Achzib : 30. Ummah also, and
Aphek, and Rehob : twenty and two cities
with their villages. 31. This is the inherit¬
ance of the tribe of the children of Asher
Vol. ii. — L
according to their families, these cnies with
their villages.
The lot of Asher lay upon the coast of the great
sea; we read not of any famous person of this tribe,
but Anna the prophetess, who was a constant resi¬
dent in the temple at the time of our Saviour’s birth,
Luke 2. 36. Nor were there many famous places
in this tribe. Aphek, mentioned v. 30. was the
place near which Ben-hadad was beaten by Ahab,
1 Kings 20. 30. But dose adjoining to this tribe
were the celebrated sea-port towns of Tyre and Si-
don, which we read so much of. Tyre is called here
that strong city , v. 29. but Bishop Patrick thinks it
was not the same Tyre that we read of afterwards,
for that was built on an island; this old strong city
was on the continent. And it is conjectured by
some, that into these two strong holds, Sidon and
Tzor, or Tyre, many of the people of Canaan fled
and took shelter, when Joshua invaded them.
32. The sixth lot came out to the chil¬
dren of Naphtali, even for the children of
Naphtali according to their families. 33.
And their coast was from Heleph, from Al¬
ton to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb,
and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgo¬
ings thereof were at Jordan; 34. And then
the coast turneth westward to Aznoth-tabor,
and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and
reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and
reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to
Judah upon Jordan toward the sun-rising.
35. And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer,
and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36. And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37. And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38. Andiron, andMigdal-el,Horem,Beth-
anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities
with their villages. 39. This is the inherit¬
ance of the tribe of the children of Naph¬
tali according to their families, the cities
and their villages.
Naphtali lay furthest north of all the tribes, bor¬
dering on mount Libanus. The city of Leshem, or
Laish, lay on the utmost edge of it to the north, and
therefore, when the Danites had made themselves
masters of it, and called it Dan, the length of Ca¬
naan from north to south was reckoned from Dan to
Beer-sheba. It had Zebulun on the south, Asher
en the west, and Judah upon Jordan, probably, a
city of that name, and so distinguished from the
tribe of Judah, on the east. It was in the lot of this
tribe, near the waters of Merom, that Joshua fought
and routed Jabin, ch. 11. 1. & c. In this tribe stood
works; and the mountain (as is supposed) on which
Christ preached, Matt. 5. 1.
40. And the seventh tot came out for the
tribe of the children of Dan, according to
their families. 4 1 . And the coast of their
inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and
lr-shemesh, 42. And Shaalabbin, and Aja-
! ton, and Jethlah, 43. And Eton, and Thim-
! nathah, and Ekron, 44. And Eltekeh, and
I Gibbethon, and Baalath, 45. And Jehud*
32
JOSHUA, XX.
and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon, 46.
And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the bol ¬
der before Japho. 47. And the coast of the
children of Dan went out too little for them ;
therefore the children of Dan went up to
fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote
it with the edge of the sword, and possessed
it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem,
Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
43. This is the inheritance of the tribe of
the children of Dan according to their fami¬
lies, these cities with their villages.
Dan, though commander of one of the four squa¬
drons of the camp of Israel, in the wilderness, that
which brought up the rear, yet was last provided
for in Canaan, and his lot fell in the southern part
of Canaan, between Judah on the east, and the land
of the Philistines on the west; Ephraim on the
north, and Simeon on the south. Providence or¬
dered this numerous and powerful tribe into a post
of danger, as best able to deal with those vexatious
neighbours the Philistines, and so it was found in
Samson. Here is,
1. An account of what fell to this tribe by lot:
Zorah, and Eshtaol, and the camp of Dan there¬
abouts, we read of in the story of Samson. And
near there was the vallev of Eshcol, whence the
spies brought the famous bunch of grapes. Japho,
or Joppa, was in this lot.
2. An account of what they got by their own in¬
dustry and valour, which is mentioned here, v. 47.
but related at large, Judg. 18. 7,
49. When they had made an end of di¬
viding the land for inheritance by their
coasts, the children of Israel gave an inhe¬
ritance to Joshua the son of Nun among
them : 50. According to the word of the
Lord, they gave him the city which
he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount
Ephraim : and he built the city, and dwelt
therein. 51. These are the inheritances
which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the
son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of
the tribes of the children of Israel, divided
for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the
Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. So they made an end of di¬
viding the country.
Before this account of the dividing of the land is
solemnly closed up, in the last verse, which inti¬
mates that the thing was done to the satisfaction of
all, here is an account of the particular inheritance
assigned to Joshua.
1. He was last served, though the eldest and
greatest man of all Israel, and who, having com¬
manded in the conquest of Canaan, might have de¬
manded the first settlement in it for himself and his
family. But he would make it appear that in all he
did, he sought the good of his country, and not any
private interest of his own. He was content to be
unfixed till he saw them all placed; and herein is a
great example to all in public places, to prefer the
common welfare before their particular satisfaction.
Let the public first be served.
2. He had his lot according unto the word of the
Lord; it is probable, when God by Moses tola Ca¬
leb what inheritance he should have, Josh. 14. 9. he
gave the like promise to Joshua, which he had an
eye to in making his election, which made his por¬
tion doubly pleasant, that he had it, not as the rest,
by common pro\ idence, but by special promise.
3. He chose it in mount Ephraim, which belong¬
ed to his own tribe, with which he thereby put him¬
self in common, when he might by prerogath e have
chosen his inheritance in some other tribe, as sup¬
pose that of Judah, and thereby have distinguished
himself from them. Let no man’s preferment or
honour make him ashamed of his family or country,
or estrange him from it. The tabernacle was set
up in the lot of Ephraim, and Joshua would forecast
not to be far from that.
4. The children of Israel are said to give it him ,
v. 49. which bespeaks his humility, that he would
not take it to himself without the people’s consent
and approbation, as if he would thereby own him¬
self, though major singulis — greater than any one,
yet minor unrversis — less than the whole assem¬
blage, and would hold even the estate cf his family,
under God, by the grant of the people.
5. It was a city that must be built before it was
fit to be dwelt in: while others dwelt in houses
which they builded not, Joshua must build for him¬
self, that he might be a pattern of industry and con¬
tentment with mean things, such buildings as he
could hastily run up, without curiosity or magnifi¬
cence. Our Lord Jesus thus came and dwelt among
us, not in pomp but poverty, providing rest for us,
yet himself not having where to lay his head. Even
Christ pleased not himself.
CHAP. XX.
This short chapter is concerning the cities of refuge, which
we often read of in the writings of Moses, but this is the
last time that we find mention of them, for now that
matter was thoroughly settled. Here is, I. The law
God gave concerning them, V.1..6. II. The people's
designation of the particular cities for that use, v. 7- .9.
And this remedial law was a figure of goM things to
come.
1. 7 1 TIE Lord also spake unto Joshua
JL saying, 2. Speak to the children of
Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of
refuge, whereof 1 spake unto you by the
hand of Moses: 3. That the slayer that
killeth any person unawares and unwitting¬
ly may flee thither : and they shall be your
refuge from the aveiger of blood. 4. And
when he that doth flee unto one of those ci¬
ties shall stand at the entering of the gate of
the city, and shall declare his cause in the
ears of the elders of that city, they shall
take him into the city unto them, and give
him a place, that he may dwell among
them. 5. And if the avenger of blood pur¬
sue after him, then they shall not deliver
the slayer up into his hand; because he
smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated
him not beforetime. 6. And he shall dwell
in that city, until he stand before the con¬
gregation for judgment, and until the death
of the high priest that shall be in those days:
then shall the slayer return, and come unto
his own city, and unto his own house, unto
the city from whence he fled.
Many things were by the law of Moses ordered
to be done when they came to Canaan, and this
JOSHUA, XX.
83
among the rest, the appointing of sanctuaries for
the protecting of those th t were guilty of casual
murder; which was a privilege to all Israel, since
no man could be s ire but some time or other it
might be his own case; and it was for the interest
of the land, that the blood of an innocent person,
whose hand only was guilty, but not his heart,
should not be shed, no not by the avenger of blood:
of this law God here reminds them, which was so
much for their advantage, that they might remind
themselves of the other laws he had given them,
which concerned his honour.
I. Orders are given for the appointing of these
cities, v. 2. and very seasonably at this time when
the land was surveyed, and so they were the better
able to divide the coasts of it into three parts, as
God had directed them, in order to the more con¬
venient situation of these cities of refuge, Deut. 19. 3.
Yet, it is probable that it was not done till after the
Levites had their portion assigned them in the next
chapter, because the cities of refuge were all to be
Levites* cities. As soon as ever God had given
them cities of rest, he bade tnem appoint cities of
refuge, to which none cf them knew but they might
be glad to escape. Thus God provided, not only for
their ease at all times, but for their safety in time
of danger, and such times we must expect and pre¬
pare for in this world. And it intimates what God’s
spiritual Israel have, and shall have in Christ and
heaven, not only to repose themselves in, but refuge
to secure themselves in. And we cannot think these
cities of refuge would have been so often and so
much spoken of in the law of Moses, and have had
so much care taken about them, (when the inten¬
tion of them might have been effectually answered,
as it is in our law, by authorising the courts of judg¬
ment to protect and acquit the manslayer in all
those cases wherein he was to have privilege of
sanctuary,) if they were not designed to typify the
relief which the gospel provides for poor penitent
sinners, and their protection from the curse of the
law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus, to
whom believers flee for refuge, Heb. 6. 18. and in
whom they are found , Phil. 3. 9. as in a sanctuary,
where they are privileged from arrests, and there is
now no condemnation to them, Rom. 8. 1.
II. Instructions are given for the using of these
cities. The laws in this matter we had before,
Numb. 35. 10, rCfc. where they were opened at
large.
1. It is supposed that a man might possibly kill
a person, it may be, his own child, ordearest friend,
unawares and unwittingly, v. 3. not only whom he
hated not, but whom he truly loved, beforetime, v.
5, for the way of man is not in hirhself. What rea¬
son have we to thank God who has kept us both
from slaying, and from being slain by accident!
In this case, it is supposed that the relations of
the person slain would demand the life of the
slayer, as a satisfaction to that ancient law, that
who sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be
shed.
2. It is provided, that if upon trial it appeared,
that the murder was done purely by accident, and
not by design, either upon an old grudge, or a sud¬
den passion, then the slayer should be sheltered
from the avenger of blood in any one of these cities,
v. 4, 6. By this law he was entitled to a dwelling
in that city, was taken into the care of the govern¬
ment of it, but was confined to it, as a prisoner at
large; only if he survived the High Priest, then,
and not till then, he might return to his own city.
And the Jews say, “If he died before the High
Priest in the city of his refuge and exile, and was
buried there, yet at the death of the High Priest,
his bones should be. removed with respect to the
place of his fathers’ sepulchres.”
7. And they appointed lvedesh in Galilee
in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount
Ephraim, and Kiijath-arba (which is He¬
bron,) in the mountain of Judah. 8. And
on the other side Jordan by Jericho east¬
ward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness
upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben,
and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of
Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe
| of Manasseh. 9. These were the cities ap¬
pointed for all the children of Israel, and
j lor the stranger that sojourneth among them,
| that whosoever killeth any person at un-
| a wares might flee thither, and not die by
> the hand of the avenger of blood, until he
stood before the congregation.
We have here the nomination of the cities of re¬
fuge in the land of Canaan, which was made by the
advice and authority of Joshua and the princes, v.
7. and upon occasion of the mention of this, is re¬
peated the nomination of the other three in the lot
of the other two tribes and a half, which was made
by Moses, Deut. 4. 43. but (as Bishop Patrick
thinks) they had not the privilege till now.
1. They are said to sanctify these cities, that is
the original word for appointed, v. 7. Not that anv
ceremony was used to signify the consecration c’f
them, only they did by a public act of court solemn¬
ly declare them cities of refuge; and, as such, sa¬
cred to the honour of God, as the protector of ex¬
posed innocency. If they were sanctuaries, it was
proper to say, they were sanctified. Christ, our
Refuge, was sanctified by his Father; nay, for our
sakes he sanctified himself, John 17. 19.
2. These cities (as those also on the other side
Jordan) stood in the three several parts of the coun¬
try, so conveniently that a man might (they say) in
half a day reach some one of them from any corner
of the country. Kedesh w-as in Naphtali, the mosi
northern tribe, Hebron in Judah, the most southern,
and Shechem in Ephraim, which lay in the mid¬
dle, about equally distant from the other two. God
is a refuge at hand.
3. They were all Levites’ cities, which put an
honour upon God’s tribe, making them judges in
those cases wherein divine providence was so nearly
concerned, and protectors to oppressed innocency;
it was also a kindness to the poor refugee, that
when he might not go up to the house of the Lord,
nor tread his courts, yet he had the servants of
God’s house with him, to instruct him, and pray
for him, and help to make up the want of public
ordinances. If he must be confined, it shall be to
a Levite-city, where he may, if he will, improve
his time.
4. These cities were upon hills to be seen afar
off, for a city on a hill cannot be hid; and this would
both direct and encourage the poor distressed man
that was making that way; and though therefore
his way at last was up-hill, yet this would comfort
him, that he would be in his place of safety quick¬
ly; and if he could but get into the suburbs of the
city, he was well enough off.
5. Some observe a significancy in the names of
these cities with application to Christ our Refuge.
I delight not in quibbling upon names, yet am wall¬
ing to take notice of these. Kedesh signifies holy,
and our refuge is the holy Jesus. Shechem, a shoul¬
der, and the government is upon his shoulder. He¬
bron, fellowship, and believers are called into the
fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Bezer, a for¬
tification, for he is a Strong-hold to all them that
84 JOSHUA, XXI.
trust in him. llamath, high or exalted , for him
hath God exalted wkli his own right hand. Golan,
joy or exultation, for in him all the saints are justi¬
fied, and shall glory.
Lastly, Beside all these, the horns of the altar,
wherever it was, were a refuge to those who took
hold on them, if the crime were such as that sanc¬
tuary allowed. This is implied in that law, Exod.
21. 14, that a wilful murderer shall be taken from
God’s altar and be put to death. And we find the
altar used for this purpose, 1 Kings 1. 50. — 2. 28.
Christ is our Altar, who not only sanctifies the gifts,
but protects the giver.
CHAP. XXI.
It had been often said that the tribe of Levi should have
no inheritance with their brethren, no particular part of
the country assigned them, as the other tribes had, no
not the country about Shiloh, which, one would have
expected, should have been appropriated to them as the
lands of the church; but though they were not thus cast
into a country by themselves, it appears, by the provision
made for them in this chapter, that they were no losers,
but the rest of the tribes were very much gainers, by
their being dispersed. We have here, I. The motion they
made to have their cities assigned them, according to
God’s appointment, v. 1, 2. II. The nomination of the
cities accordingly, out of the several tribes, and the dis¬
tribution of them to the respective families of this tribe,
v. 3. . 8. III. A catalogue of the cities, forty-eight in
all, v. 9.. 42. IV. A receipt entered in full of all that
God had promised to his people Israel, v. 43.. 45.
HEN came near the heads of the
fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar
t he priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun,
and unto the heads of the fathers of the
tribes of the children of Israel ; 2. And
they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land
of Canaan, saying, The Lord commanded
by the hand of Moses to give us cities to
dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our
cattle. 3. And the children of Israel gave
unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at
the commandment of the Lord, these cities
and their suburbs. 4. And the lot came
out for the families of the Kohathites : and
the children of Aaron the priest, which were
of the Levites, had by lot, out of the tribe
of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon,
and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen
cities. 5. And the rest of the children of
Kohath had by lot, out of the families of the
tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of
Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh,
ten cities. 6. And the children of Gershon
had by lot, out of the families of the tribe
of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher,
and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of
the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thir¬
teen cities. 7. The children of Merari, by
their families, had, out of the tribe of Reu¬
ben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of
the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 8. And
the children of Israel gave by lot unto the
Levites these cities with their suburbs, as
the Lord commanded by the hand of
Moses.
Here is,
I. The Levites’ petition presented to this general
convention of the states, now sitting at Shiloh, v .
1, 2. Observe,
1. They had not their lot assigned them till they
made their claim. There is an inheritance pro¬
vided for all the saints, that royal priesthood, but
then they must petition for it, Ask, and it shall be
given you. Joshua had quickened the rest of the
tribes who were slack, to put in their claims, but
the Levites, it may be supposed, knew their duty
and interest better than the rest, and were there¬
fore forward in this matter, when it came to their
turn, without being called upon. They build their
claim upon a very good foundation, not their own
merits or services, but the divine precept. “ The
Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us
cities, commanded you to grant them, which im¬
plied a command to us to ask them.” Note, The
maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing,
left purely to the good-will cf the people, who may
let them starve if they please; no, as the God of Is¬
rael commanded that the Levites should be well
provided for, so has the Lord Jesus, the King of
the Christian church, ordained, and a peYpetual or¬
dinance it is, that they which preach the gospel,
should live of the gospel, 1. Cor. 9. 14. and should
live comfortably.
2. They did not make their claim till all the rest
of the tribes were provided for, and then they did it
immediately. There was some reason for it: every
tribe must first know their own, else they would
not know what they gave the Levites, and so it
could not be such a reasonable service as it ought
to be. But it is also an instance of their humility,
modesty, and patience, (and Levites should be ex¬
amples cf these and other virtues,) that they were
willing to be served last, and they fared never the
worse for it. Let not God’s ministers complain if
at any time they find themselves postponed in men’s
thoughts and cares, but let them make sure of the
favour of God, and the honour that comes from
him, and then they may well enough afford to bear
the slights and neglects of men.
II. The Levites’ petition granted immediately,
without any dispute, the princes of Israel being per¬
haps ashamed that they needed to be called upon
in this matter, and that the motion had not been
made among themselves for the settling of the Le¬
vites.
1. The children of Israel are said to give the ci¬
ties for the Levites. God had appointed how many
they should be in all, forty-eight. It is probable
that Joshua, and the princes, upon consideration, of
the extent and value of the lot of each tribe as it
was laid before them, had appointed how many ci •
ties should be taken out of each; and then the fa¬
thers of the several tribes themselves agreed which
they should be, and therefore are said to give them
as an offering, to the Lord; so God had appointed.
Numb. 35. 8, Every one shall give of his cities to
the Levites. Here God tried their generosity, and
it was found to praise and honour, for it appears by
the following catalogue, that the cities they gave to
the Levites, were generally some of the best and
most considerable in each tribe. And it is probable,
that they had an eye to the situation of them, taking
care they should be so dispersed, as that no part of
the country should be too far distant from a Levites’
city.
2. They gave them at the comir.andment of tin.
Lord, that is, with an eye to the command, and in
obedience to it, which was it that sanctified the
grant. They gave the number that God command¬
ed, and it was well that matter was settled, that the
Levites might not ask more, nor the Israelites offer
less. They gave them also with their suburbs, or
glebe-lands, belonging to them, so many cubits by
measure from the walls of the city, as God had
86
JOSHUA. XXL
commanded, Numb. 35. 4, 5. and did not go about
to cut them short.
3. When the forty-eight cities were pitched upon,
they were divided into four lots, as they lay next
together, and then by lot were determined to the
four several families of the tribe of Levi. When
the Israelites had surrendered the cities into the
hand of God, he would himself have the distributing
of them among his servants. (1.) The family of
Aaron, who were the only priests, had to their
share the thirteen cities that were given by the
tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, v. 4. God
in wisdom ordered it thus, that though Jerusalem
itself was not one of their cities, it being as yet in
the possession of the Jebiisites, (and those generous
tribes would not mock the Levites who had an¬
other warfare to mind, with a city that must be re¬
covered by the sword before it could be enjoyed,)
yet the cities that fell to their lot were those which
lay next to Jerusalem, because that was to be in
process of time, the holy cit^, where their business
would chiefly lie. (2.) The Kohathite Levites
(among whom were the posterity of Moses, though
never distinguished from them) had the cities that
lay in the lot of Dan, which lay next to Judah, and
in' that of Ephraim, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
which lay next to Benjamin. So they who descend¬
ed from Aaron’s father, joined nearest to Aaron’s
s ns. (3. ) Gershcn was the eldest son of Levi, and
therefore, though the younger house of the Kohath-
ites was preferred before his, yet his children had
the precedency of the other family of Merari, v. 6.
(4. ) The Merarites, the youngest house, had their
lot last, and it lay furthest off, v. 7. The rest of
the sons of Jacob had a lot for every tribe only, but
Levi, God’s tribe, had a lot for each of its families;
for there is a particular providence directing and at¬
tending the removes and settlements of ministers,
and appointing where they shall fix, who are to be
the lights of the world.
9. And they gave out of the tribe of the
children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the
children of Simeon, these cities which are
here mentioned by name, 10. Which the
children of Aaron, being of the families of
the Kohathites, who were of the children of
Levi, had : for theirs was the first lot. 11.
And they gave them the city of Arba, the
father of Anak, (which city is Hebron,) in
the hill-cozm/r?/ of Judah, with the suburbs
thereof round about it. 12. But the fields
of the city, and the villages thereof, gave
they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his
possession. 13. Thus they gave to the
children of Aaron the priest, Hebron with
her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the
slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, 14.
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa
with her suburbs, 1 5. And Holon with her
suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs, 16.
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with
her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her
suburbs ; nine cities out of those two tribes.
1 7. And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibe-
on with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18. Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon
with her suburbs; four cities. 19. All the
cities of the children of Aaron the priests,
were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 20
And the families of the children of Kohath
the Levites which remained of the children
of Kohath, even they had the cities of their
lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21. For
they gave them Shechem with her suburbs
in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for
the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
22. And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and
Beth-horon with her suburbs ; four cities.
23. And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh
with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her sub¬
urbs, 24. Ajalon with her suburbs, Gatli-
rirmnon with her suburbs ; four cities. 26.
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Taa-
nach with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon
with her suburbs ; tw^o cities. 26. All the
cities were ten, with their suburbs, for the
families of the children of Kohath that re¬
mained. 27. And unto the children of
Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out
of the other half tribe of Manasseh, they
gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to
be a city of refuge for the slayer ; and Beesh-
terali with her suburbs; two cities. 28.
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon
with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29. Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim
with her suburbs ; four cities. 30. And
out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her
suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs, 31. Hel-
kath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her
suburbs ; four cities. 32. And out of the
tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with
her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the.
slayer ; and Hammoth-dor with her suburbs,
and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
33. All the cities of the Gershonites, accord¬
ing to their families, were thirteen cities with
their suburbs. 34. And unto the families
of the children of Merari, the rest of the Le¬
vites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam
with her suburbs, and Kartah with her
suburbs, 35. Dimnah with her suburbs,
Nahalal w ith her suburbs ; four cities. 36.
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with
her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs.
37. Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Me-
phaath with her suburbs ; four cities. 38.
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in
Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of re¬
fuge for the slayer ; and Mahanaim with
her suburbs, 39. Heshbon with her suburbs,
Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40. So all the cities for the children of Me¬
rari, by their families, which were remain¬
ing of the families of the Levites, were, by
their lot, twelve cities. 41. All the cities
of the Levites within the possession of the
children of Israel were forty and eight cities
86
with their suburbs. 42. These cities were
every one with their suburbs round about
them : thus were all these cities.
We have here a particular account of the cities
which were given to the children of Levi, out of the
several tribes, not only to be occupied and inha¬
bited by them, as tenants to the several tribes in
which they lay; no, their interest in them was not
dependent and precarious, but to be owned and
possessed by them as lords and proprietors, and as
having the same title to them that the rest of the
ti ibes had to their cities or lands, as appears by the
law which presen ed the houses in the Levites’ ci¬
ties from being alienated any longer than till the
year of jubilee, Lev. 25. 32, 33. \ et it is probable,
that the Levites having only the cities and suburbs,
while the land about pertained to the tribes in
which they lay, those of that tribe, for the conve¬
nience of occupying that land, might commonly rent
houses of the Levites, as they could spare them
in their cities, and so live among them as their
tenants.
Several things may be observed in this account,
beside what was observed in the law concerning it,
Numb. 35.
1. That the Levites were dispersed into all the
tribes, and not suffered to live ail together in any¬
one part of the country: this would find them all
with work, and employ them all for the good of
. thers; for ministers, of all people, must neither be
idle, nor live to themselves, or to one another only.
Christ left his twelve disciples together in a body,
but left orders that they should in due time disperse
themselves, that they ' might preach the gospel to
n’ery creature. The mixing of the Levites thus
with the other tribes, would be an obligation upon
them to walk circumspectly, and as became their
sacred function, and to avoid every thing that might
disgrace it; had they lived all together, they would
have been tempted to wink at one another’s faults,
and to excuse one another when they did amiss; but
by this means they were made to see the eyes of all
Israel upon them, and therefore saw it their con¬
cern to walk so as that their ministry might in no¬
thing be blamed, nor their high character suffer by
their ill carriage.
2. That every tribe of Israel was adorned and
enriched with its share of Levites’ cities, in propor¬
tion to its compass, even those that lay most remote.
They were all God’s people, and therefore they all
had Levites among them. (1.) To show kindness
to, as God appointed them, Lieut. 12. 19. — 14. 29.
They were God’s r ceivers, to whom the people
might give their grateful acknowledgments of God’s
goodness, as the occasion and disposition were. (2.)
To receive advice and instruction from; when they
could not go up to the tabernacle to consult those
who attended there, they might ro to a Levites’
city, and be taught the good knowledge of the Lord.
Thus God set up a candle in every room of his
house, to give light to all his family; as those that
attended the altar, kept the charge of the Lord, to
see that no divine appointment was neglected there;
so they that were scattered in the country, had
their charge too, which was to see that no idolatrous
superstitious usages were introduced at a distance,
and to watch for the souls of God’s Israel. Thus
did God graciously pro\ ide for the keeping up of
religion among them, and that they might have the
word nigh them; yet, blessed be God, we under the
Gospel, have it yet nigher, not only Levites in every
county, but Lev ites in every parish, whose office it
is still to teach the pe pie knowledge, and to go be¬
fore them in the things of God.
3. That here were thirteen cities, and these some
of the best, appointed for the priests, the sons of
\, XXI.
Aaron, v. 19. Aaron left but two sons, Eleaz ir and
Ithamar, yet his family was now so much increased,
and it was foreseen that it would in process of time
grow so numerous, as to replenish all these cities;
thoi gh a considerable number must of necessity be
resident wherever the ark and the altar were. We
read in both Testaments of such numbers of priests,
that we may suppose none of all the families of Is¬
rael that came out of Egypt, increased afterward so
much as that of Aaron did; and the premise after¬
ward to the house of Aaron, is, God shall increase
you more and more, you and your children, Ps.
115. 12, 14. He will raise up a seed to serve him.
4. That some of the Levites’ cities were after¬
ward famous upon other accounts. Hebron was
the city in which David began his reign, and in
Mahanaim, another Levites’ city, v. 38. he lay, and
had his head-quarters when he fled from Absalom.
The first Israelite that ever wore the title cf king,
namely, Abimelech, the sen of Gideon, reigned in
Schechem, another Levites’ city, xc 21.
5. That the number of them in all was more than
of most of the tribes, except Judah, though the
tribe of Levi was one of the least of the tribes, to
show how liberal God is, and his people should be,
to his ministers; yet the disproportion will not ap¬
pear so great as at first it seems, if we consider that
the Levites had cities, only with the suburbs to
dwell in, but the rest of the tribes, beside their ci¬
ties, (and those perhaps were many more than <;
named in the account of their lot,) hadmany i.;.-
walled towns and villages which they inhabited,
beside country-houses.
LTpon the whole, it appears that effectual care
was taken, that the Levites should live both com¬
fortably and usefully; and those, whether ministers
or others, for whom Providence has done well,
must look upon themselves as obliged thereby to do
good, and, according as their capacity and oppor¬
tunity are, to serve their generation.
43. And the Lord gave unto Israel all
the land which he sware to give unto their
fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt
therein. 44. And the Lord gave them rest
round about, according to all that he sware
unto their fathers : and there stood not a
man of all their enemies before them ; the
Lord delivered all their enemies into their
hand. 45. There failed not aught of any
good thing which the Lord had spoken
unto the house of Israel ; all came to pass.
We have here the conclusion of this whole mat¬
ter, the foregoing history summed up, and, to make
it appear the more bright, compared with the pro¬
mise, of which it was the full accomplishment.
God’s word and his works mutually illustrate each
other. The performance makes the promise ap¬
pear very true, and the promise makes the per¬
formance appear very kind.
1. God had promised to give the seed of Abraham
the land of Canaan for a possession, and now at last
he performed that promise, v. 43. they possessed it,
and dwelt therein. Though they had often forfeited
the benefit of that promise, and God had long
delayed the performance of it, yet, at last, all
difficulties were conquered, and Canaan was their
own. And the promise of the heavenly Canaan is
as sure to all God’s spiritual Israel, for it is the pro¬
mise of him that cannot lie.
2. God had promised to give them rest in that
land, and now they had rest round about. Rest
from the fatigues of their tra\ el through the wil¬
derness, which tedious march, perhaps, was long
JOSHUA, XX1J. 8?
in their bones; rest from their wars in Canaan, and
the insults which their enemies there had at first
offered them. They now dwelt, not or.ly in habita¬
tions of their own, but those, quiet and peaceable
ones; though therew ere Canaanites that lemained,
yet none that had either strength or spirit to attack
them, or so much as to give them an alarm. This
rest continued, till they by their own sin and folly
put thorns into their- own beds, and their own eyes.
3. God had promised to give them victory and
success in their wars, and this promise likewise was
fulfilled, there stood not a man before them, v. 44.
They had the better in every battle, and which way
soever they turned their forces, they prospered. It
is true, there were Canaanites now remaining in
many parts of the land, and such as afterward made
head against them, and became very formidable.
But, (1.) As to the present remains of the Canaan¬
ites, they were no contradiction to the promise, for
God had said he would not drive them out all at
once, but by little and little, Exod. 23. 30. They
had now as much in their full possession as they had
occasion for, and as they had hands to manage; so
that the Canaanites only kept possession of some of
the less cultivated parts of the country against the
beasts of the field, till Israel, in process of time,
should become numerous enough to replenish them,
(2. ) As to the after-prevalency of the Canaanites,
that was purely the effect of Israel’s cowardice and
slothfulness, and the punishment of their sinful in¬
clination to the idolatries and other abominations
of the heathen, which the Lord would have cast
out before them, but they harboured and indulged
them.
So that the foundation of God stands sure: Israel’s
experience of God’s fidelity is here upon record,
and is an acquittance under their hands to the ho¬
nour of God, the vindication of his promise which
had been so often distrusted, and the encourage¬
ment of all believers to the end of the world. There
failed not any good thing, no, nor aught of any
good thing, (so full is it expressed,) which the Lord
had sfxoken unto the house of Israel, but in due time
all came to pass, v. 45. Such an acknowledgment
as this, here subscribed by Joshua, in the name of
all Israel, we afterward find made by Solomon, and
all Israel did in effect say- amen to it, 1 Kings 8. 56.
The inviolable truth of God’s promise, and the per¬
formance of it to the utmost, is what all the saints
have been ready to bear their testimony to; and if
in any thing it has seemed to come short, they have
been as ready to own that they themselves must
bear all the blame.
CHAP. XXII.
Many particular things we have read concerning the two
tribes and a half, though nothing separated them from
the rest of the tribes except the river Jordan, and this
chapter is wholly concerning them. I. Joshua’s dismis¬
sion of the militia of those tribes from the camp of Israel,
in which they had served as auxiliaries during all the
wars of Canaan, and their return thereupon to their own
country, v. 1 . .9. II. The altar they built on the borders
of Jordan, in token of their communion with the land of
Israel, v. 10. III. The offence which the rest of the tribes
took at this altar, and the message they sent thereupon,
v. 11 . .20. IV. The apology which the two tribes and a
half made for what they had done, v. 21. .29. V. The sa¬
tisfaction which their apology gave to the rest of the
tribes, v. 30- .34. And (which is strange) whereas in most
differences that happen, there is a fault on both sides, on
this there Was fault on no side; none (for aught that ap¬
pears) were to be blamed, but all to be praised.
HEN Joshua called the Reubenites,
and the Gadites, and the half tribe
of Manasseh, 2. And said unto them, Ye
have kept all that Moses the servant of the
Lord commanded you, and have obeyed
my voice in all that I commanded you : 3
V e have not left your brethren these many
days unto this day, but have kept the charge
of the commandment of the Lord your
God. 4. And now the Lord your God
hath given rest unto your brethren, as he
promised them : therefore now return ye,
and get you unto your tents, and unto the
land ol your possession, which Moses the
servant ol the Lord gave yTou on the other
side Jordan. 5. But take diligent heed
to do the commandment and the law, which
Moses the servant of the Lord charged
you, to love the' Lord your God, and to
walk in all his ways, and to keep his com¬
mandments, and to cleave unto him, and to
serve him with all your heart and with all
your soul. 6. So Joshua blessed them, and
sent them away: and they went unto theii
tents. 7. Now, to the o?rehalf of the tribe ol
Manasseh Moses had given possession in Ba
shan;but untothe o/Aer half thereof gave Josh¬
ua among their brethren on this side Jordan
westward. And when Joshua sent them
away also unto their tents, then he blessed
them; 8. And he spake unto them, saying,
Return with much riches unto your tents,
and with very much cattle, with silver, and
with gold, and with brass, and with iron,
and with very much raiment: divide the
spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
9. And the children of Reuben, and the
children of Gad, and the half tribe of Ma¬
nasseh, returned, and departed from the
children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in
the land of Canaan, to go unto the country
of Gilead, to the land of their possession,
whereof they were possessed, according to
the word of the Lord by the hand ol
Moses.
The war being ended, and ended gloriously,
Joshua, as a prudent general, disbands his army,
who never designed to make war their trade, and
sends them home to enjoy what they had conquer¬
ed, and to beat their swords into ploughshares, and
their spears into pruning-hooks; and, particularly,
the forces of these separate tribes, who had receiv¬
ed their inheritance on the other side Jordan from
Moses, upon this condition, that their men of war
should assist the other tribes in the conquest of Ca¬
naan, which they promised to do. Numb. 32. 32.
and renewed the promise of Joshua at the opening
of the campaign, Josh. 1. 16. And now that they
had performed their bargain, Joshua publicly and
solemnly in Shiloh gives them their discharge.
Whether this was done, as it was placed, not till
after the land was divided, as some think, ( r
whether after the war was ended, and before the
division was made, as others think, (because there
was no need of their assistance in diuding the land,
but only in conquering it, nor were there any of
their tribes employed as commissioners in that affair,
but only of the other ten, Numb. 34. 18, See.) this is
i certain, it was not done till after Shiloh was made
its JOSHUA, XXI I.
the head-quarters, v. 2. and the land was begun to
be divided before thev removed from Gilgal, ch.
14. 6.
It is probable that this army of Reubenites and
Gadites, which had led the van in all the wars of
Canaan, had sometimes, in the intervals of action,
and when the rest of the army retired into wintei’-
quarters, some of them, at least, made a step over
Jordan, for it was not far, to visit their families, and
f.i look after their private affairs, and perhaps tar¬
ried at home, and sent others in their room more
serviceable; but still these two tribes and a half had
their quota of troops ready, forty thousand in all,
which, whenever there was occasion, rendered
themselves at their respective posts, and now at¬
tended in a body to receive their discharge. Though
their affection to their families, and concern for
their affairs, could not but make them, after so long
absence, very desirous to return, yet, like good sol¬
diers, they would not move till they had orders
from their general. So though our heavenly Fa¬
ther’s house above be never so desirable, (it is
Bishop Hall’s allusion,) yet must we stay on earth
till our warfare be accomplished, wait for a due dis¬
charge, and not anticipate the time of our removal.
I. Joshua dismisses them to the land of their pos¬
session, v. 4. They that were first in the assignment
of their lot, were last in the enjoyment of it; they got
the start of their brethren in title, but their breth¬
ren were before them in full possession; so the last
shall be first, and the first last, that there may be
something of equality.
II. He dismisses them with their pay; for who
goes a warfare at his own charge? v. 8, Return
with much riches unto your tents. Though all the
land they had helped to conquer, was to go to the
other tribes, yet they should have their share of the
plunder, and had so, and that was all the pay that
any of the soldiers expected; for the wars of Canaan
bore their own charges. “ Go,” says Joshua, “ go
home to your tents,” that is, “ your houses,” which
he calls tents, because they had been so much used
to tents in the wilderness; and indeed the strongest
and stateliest houses in this world are to be looked
upon but as tents, mean and moveable in compari¬
son with our house above. “Go home with much
riches, not only cattle, the spoil of the country, but
silver and gold, the plunder of the cities, and,” 1.
“Let your brethren whom you leave behind, have
your good word, who have allowed you your share
in full, though the land is entirely their’s, and have
not offered to make any drawback. Do not say that
you are losers by us.” 2. “Let your brethren
whom you go to, who abode by the stuff, have some
share of the spoil. Divide the spoil with your breth¬
ren, as that was divided, which was taken in the
war with Midian, Numb. 31. 27. Let your breth¬
ren that have wanted you all this while, be the bet¬
ter for you when you come home.”
IIT. He dismisses them with a very honourable
character. Though their service was a due debt,
and the performance of a promise, and they had
done no more than was their duty to do, yet he
highly commends them; not only gives them up
their bonds, as it were, now that they had fulfilled
the condition, but applauds their good services.
Though it was by the favour of God and his power,
that Israel got possession of this land, and he must
hav e all the glory, yet Joshua thought there was a
thankful acknowledgment due to their brethren
who assisted them, and whose sword and bow were
employed for them. God must be chiefly eyed in
nur praises, yet instruments must not be altogether
overlooked. He here commends them, 1. For the
readiness of their obedience to their commanders, v.
2. When Moses was gone, they remembered and
observed the charge he had given them; and all the
orders which Joshua, as general of the forces, had
issued out, they had carefully obeyed, went, and
came, and did, as he appointed, Matt. 8. 9. It is as
much as any thing the soldier’s praise, to observe
the word of command. 2. For the constancy of
their affection, and adherence to their brethren,
Ye have not left them these many days. How many
days, he does not say, nor can we gather it for cer¬
tain from any other place. Calvisius and others of
the best chronologers compute, that the conquering
and dividing the land was the work of about six or
seven years, and so long, these separate tribes at¬
tended their camp, and did them the best service
they could. Note, It will be the honour of those
that have espoused the cause of God’s Israel, and
twisted interests with them, to adhere to them, and
never to leave them till God has given them rest,
and then they shall rest with them. 3. For the
faithfulness of their obedience to the divine law.
They had not only done their duty to Joshua and Is¬
rael, but, which was best of ali, they had made
conscience of their duty to God, Ye have kept the
charge ; or, as the word is, Ye have kept the keep¬
ing, that is, “Ye have carefully and circumspectly
kept the commandment of the Lord your God ; not
only in this particular instance of continuing in the
service of Israel to the end of the war, but, in gene¬
ral, you have kept up religion in your part of the
camp, a rare and excellent thing among soldiers,
and where it is worthy to be praised. ”
IV. He dismisses them with good counsel, not to
cultivate their ground, fortify their cities, and now
that their hands were inured to war and victory, to
invade their neighbours, and so enlarge their own
territories, but to keep up serious godliness among
them in the power of it. They were not politic but
pious instructions that he gave them, v. 5. In gen¬
eral, to take diligent heed to do the commandment
and the law. They that have the commandment
have it in vain, unless they do the commandment;
and it will not be done aright, (so apt are we to turn
aside, and so industrious are our spiritual enemies to
turn us aside,) unless we take heed, diligent heed.
In particular, to love the Lord our Gocl, as the best
of beings, and the best of friends, and as far as that
principle rules in the heart, and is the spring of its
pulses, there will be a constant care and sincere en¬
deavour to walk in his ways, in all his ways, even
those that are narrow and up hill, in every particu¬
lar instance, and in all manner of conversation to
keep his commandments ; and at all times, and in all
conditions, with purpose of heart to cleave unto him,
and to serve him and his honour, and the interests
of his kingdom among men, with all our heart, and
with all our soul. What good counsel was here
given to them, is given to us all; God give us grace
to take it!
V. He dismisses them with a blessing, v. 6. par¬
ticularly the half tribe of Manasseh, to which
Joshua, as an Ephraimite, was somewhat nearer
akin than to the other two, and who, perhaps, were
the more loath to depart, because they left one half
of their own tribe behind them, and therefore, bid¬
ding often farewell, and lingering behind, had a
second dismission and blessing, v. 7. Joshua not
only prayed for them as a friend, but blessed them
as a father in the name of the Lord, recommending
them, their families and affairs, to the grace of God.
Some, by the blessing Joshua gave them, understand
the presents he made them, in recompense of their
services; but Joshua being a prophet, and having
given them one part of a prophet’s reward, in the
instructions he gave them, v. 5. no doubt, we must
understand this of the other, even the prayers he
made for them, as one having authority, and as
God’s vicegerent.
Being thus dismissed, they returned to the land
JOSHUA, XXII. 89
of their possession in a body, v. 9. ferry-boats being,
it is likely, provided for their repassing Jordan.
Though masters of families may have occasion to be
absent, long absent, from their families sometimes,
yet, when their business abroad is finished, they
must remember home is their place, from which
they ought not to wander as a bird from her nest.
10. And when they came unto the bor-.
ders of Jordan, that are in the land of Ca¬
naan, the children of Reuben, and the child¬
ren of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar
to see to. 11. And the children of Israel
heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben,
and the children of Gad, and the half tribe
of Manasseh, have built an altar over against
the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jor¬
dan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
1 2. And when the children of Israel heard
of it, the whole congregation of the children
of Israel gathered themselves together at
Shiloh, to go up to war against them. 1 3.
And the children of Israel sent unto the
children of Reuben, and to the children of
Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into
the land of Gilead, Phinehas, the son of Ele-
azar the priest ; 1 4. And with him ten
princes, of each chief house a prince through¬
out all the tribes of Israel ; and each one
was a head of the house of their fathers
among the thousands of Israel. 15. And
they came unto the children of Reuben,
and to the children of Gad, and to the half
tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead ;
and they spake with them, saying, 1G.
Thus saith the whole congregation of the
Lord, What trespass is this that ye have
committed against the God of Israel, to turn
away this day from following the Lord, in
that ye have builded you an altar, that ye
might rebel this day against the Lord ? 17.
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from
which we are not cleansed until this day,
although there was a plague in the congre¬
gation of the Lord, 18. But that ye must
turn away this day from following the Lord?
and it will be, seeing ye rebel to-day against
the Lord, that to-morrow he will be wroth
with the whole congregation of Israel. 1 9.
Notwithstanding, if the land of your posses¬
sion be unclean, then pass ye over unto the
land of the possession of the Lord, wherein
the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take
possession among us: but rebel not against
the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building
you an altar, besides the altar of the Lord
our God. 20. Did not Achan the son of
Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed
thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation
of Israel ? and that man perished not alone
in his iniquity.
Vol. ii. — M
Here is,
I. The pious care of the separated tribes to keep
their hold of Canaan’s religion, then when they
were leaving Canaan’s land, that they might not be
as the sons of the stranger, utterly separated from
God's people, Isa. 56. 3. In order to this, they
built a great altar on the borders of Jordan, to be a
witness for them that they were Israelites, and as
such partakers of the altar of the Lord, 1 Cor. 10.
18. When they came to Jordan, v. 10. they did not
consult how to preserve the remembrance of their
own exploits in the wars of Canaan, and the ser¬
vices they had done their brethren, by erecting a
monument to the immortal honour of the two tribes
and a half. But their relation to the church of God,
together with their interest in the communion of
saints, is that which they are solicitous to preserve
and perpetuate the proofs and evidences of; and
therefore, without delay, when the thing was first
proposed by some among them, who, though glad
to think that they were going toward home, were
sorry to think that they were going from the altai
of God, immediately they erected this altar, which
served as a bridge to keep up their fellowship with
the other tribes in the things of God. Some think
they built this altar on the Canaan-side of Jordan,
in the lot of Benjamin, that looking over the river,
they might see the figure of the altar at Shiloh,
when they could not conveniently go to it; but it is
more likely that they built it on their own side of
the water, for what had they to do to build upon
another man’s land without hiis consent? And it is
said to be over-against the land of Canaan, nor
would there have been any cause of suspecting it
designed for sacrifice, if they had not built it among
themselves.
This altar was very innocently and honestly de¬
signed, but it had been well, if, since it had in it an
appearance of evil, and might be an occasion of of¬
fence to their brethren, they had consulted the
oracle of God about it before they did it; or at least
acquainted their brethren with tjieir purpose, and
given them the same explication of their altar be¬
fore, to prevent their jealousy, which they did after,
to remove it. Their zeal was commendable, but it
ought to have been guided with discretion; there
was no need to hasten the building of an altar for
the purpose they intended this, but they might have
taken time to consider and take advice; yet, when
their sincerity was made to appear, we do not fiitd
that they were blamed for their rashness; God does,
and men should, overlook the weakness of an hon¬
est zeal.
II. The holy jealousy of the other tribes for the
honour of God, and his altar at Shiloh. Notice was
immediately brought to the princes of Israel of the
setting up this altar, z>. 11. And they, knowing
how strict and severe that law was, which required
them to offer all their sacrifices in the place which
God should choose, and not elsewhere, Deut. 12. 5,
7. were soon apprehensive, that the getting up of
another altar, was an affront to the choice which
God had lately made of a place to put his name in,
and had a direct tendency to the worship of some
other God.
Now, 1. Their suspicion was very excusable, for
it must be confessed, the thing prima facie — at first
sight, looked ill, and seemed to shadow forth a de¬
sign to set up and maintain a competitor with the
altar at Shiloh. It was no strained inuendo, from
the building an altar, to infer an intention to offer
sacrifice upon it, and that might introduce idolatry,
and end in a total apostasy from the faith and wor¬
ship of the God of Israel. So great a matter might
this fire kindle. God is jealous for his own institu¬
tions, and therefore we should be so too, and afraid
of every thing that looks like, or leads to, idolatry.
90
JOSHU
2. Their zeal, upon this suspicion, was very com¬
mendable, v. 12. When they apprehended that
these tribes, which by the river Jordan were sepa¬
rated from them, were separating themselves from
God, they took it as the greatest injury that could
be done to themselves, and showed a readiness, if it
were necessary, to put their lives in their hands, in
defence of the altar of God, and to take up arms for
the chastising and reducing of these rebels, and to
prevent the spreading of the infection, if no gentle
methods would serve, by cutting off from their body
the gangrened member. They all gathered toge¬
ther, and Shiloh was the place of their rendezvous,
because it was in defence of the divine charter lately
granted to that place, that they now appeared;
their resolution was as became a kingdom of priests,
who, being devoted to God and his service, did not
acknowledge their brethren, nor know their own
children, Deut. 33. 9. They would immediately
go ufi to war against them, if it appeared they were
revolted from God, and in rebellion against him:
though they were bone of their bone, had been com-
/ tanions with them in tribulation in the wilderness,
and serviceable to them in the wars of Canaan; yet
if they turn to serve other gods, they will treat
them as enemies, not as sons of Israel, but as chil¬
dren of whoredoms, for so God had appointed,
Deut. 13. 12, &c. They had but lately sheathed
their swords, and retired from the perils and fa¬
tigues of war to the rest God had given them, and
yet they are willing to begin a new war, rather than
be any way wanting in their duty to restrain, re¬
press, and revenge idolatry, and every step towrards
it. A brave resolution, and which shows them
hearty for their religion, and, we hope careful and
diligent in the practice of it themselves. Corrup¬
tions in religion are best dealt with at first, before
they get a head, and plead prescription.
3. Their prudence in prosecution of this zealous
resolution, is no less commendable. God had ap¬
pointed them in cases of this nature, to inquire and
make search, Deut. 13. 14. that they might not
wrong their brethren under pretence of righting
their religion; accordingly, they resolve here not
to send forth their armies to wage war, till they
had first sent their ambassadors to inquire into the
merits of the cause, and these men of the first rank,
one out of each tribe, and Phinehas at the head of
them to be their spokesman, v. 13, 14. Thus was
their zeal for God tempo ed, guided, and governed
by the meekness of wisdotn. He that knows all
things, and hates all evil things, would not punish
the worst of criminals, but he would first go down
and see, Gen. 18. 21. Many an unhappy strife
would be prevented, or soon taken up, by an im¬
partial and favourable inquiry into that which is the
matter of the offence. The rectifying of mistakes
and misunderstandings, and the setting of miscon¬
strued words and actions in a true light, would be
the most effectual way to accommodate both pri¬
vate and public quarrels, and bring them to a happy
period.
4. The ambassadors’ management of this matter
came fully up to the sense and spirit of the congre¬
gation concerning it, and bespeaks much both of
zeal and prudence.
(1.) The charge they draw up against their bre¬
thren, is indeed very high, and admits no other ex¬
cuse than that it was in their zeal for the honour of
God, and was now intended to justify the resent¬
ments of the congregation at Shiloh, and to awaken
the supposed delinquents to clear themselves,
otherwise they might have suspected their judg¬
ment, or mollified it at least, and not have taken it
for granted, as they do here, v. 16. that the build¬
ing of this altar was a trespass against the God of
Israel, and a trespass, no less heinous than the re-
A, XXII.
volt of soldiers from their captain, ( to turn from
following the Lord,) and the rebellion of subjects
against their sovereign ( that ye might rebel this day
against the Lord. ) Hard words! It is well they
were not able to make good their chaige. Let not
innocency think it strange to be thus misrepresent¬
ed and accused; they laid to my charge things that
I knew not.
(2.) The aggravation of the crime charged upon
their brethren, is somewhat far-fetched, v. 17. Is
the iniquity of Peor too little for us? Probably, that
is mentioned, because Phinehas, the first commis¬
sioner in this treaty, had signalized himself in that
matter, Numb. 25. 7. and because we may suppose
they were now about the very place in which that
iniquity was committed on the other side Jordan.
It is good to recollect and improve those instances
of the wrath of God, revealed from heaven against
the ungodliness and unrighteous?iess of men, which
have fallen out in our own time, and which we our¬
selves have been eye-witnesses of. He reminds
them of the iniquity of Peor, [1.] As a very great
sin, and very provoking to God. The building of
this altar seemed but a Small matter, but it might
lead to iniquity as bad as that of Peor, and there¬
fore must be crushed in its first rise. Note, The re¬
membrance of great sins committed formerly, should
engage us to stand upon our guard against the least
occasions and beginnings of sin: for the way of sin is
down hill. [2.] As a sin that the whole congregation
had smarted for; There was a plague in the congre¬
gation of the Lord, of which, in one day, there died no
less than twenty-four thousand; was not that enough
forever to warn you against idolatry? What, will ycu
bring upon yourselves another plague? Are you so
mad upon an idolatrous altar, that you will run your¬
selves thus upon the sword’s point of God’s judg¬
ments? Does not our camp still feel from that sin,
and the punishment of it? We are not cleansed
from it unto this day; there are remaining sparks,”
First, “Of the infection of that sin; some among
us so inclined to idolatry, that if ycdi set up another
altar, they will soon take occasion from that, whe¬
ther you intend it or no, to worship another god.”
Secotidly, “Of the wrath of God against us for
that sin: we have reason to fear, that if we provoke
God by another sin to visit, he will remember
against us the iniquity of Peor, as he threatened to
do that of the golden calf, Exod. 32. 34. And dare
you wake the sleeping lion of divine vengeance?”
Note, It is a foolish and dangerous thing for people
to think their former sins little, too little for them,
as those do who add sin to sin, and so treasure up
wrath against the day of wrath. Let therefore the
time past suffice, 1 Pet. 4. 3.
(3.) The reason they give for their concerning
themselves so warmly in this matter, is very suffi¬
cient; they were obliged to it, in their own neces¬
sary defence, by the law cf self-preservation; “for
if you revolt from God to-day, who knows, but to¬
morrow, his judgments may break in upon the
whole congregation, v. 18. as in the case of Achan,
v. 20. He sinned, and we all smarted for it, by
which we should receive instruction, and from what
God did then, infer what we may do, and fear what
he will do, if. we do not witness against your sin,
who are so many, and punish it?” Note, The con¬
servators of the public peace are obliged, in justice
to the common safety, to use their power for the
restraining and so suppressing of vice and profane¬
ness, lest, if it be connived at, the sin thereby be¬
come national, and bring God’s judgments upon the
community. Nay, We are all concerned therefore
to reprove our neighbour when he does amiss, lest
we bear sin for him. Lev. 19. 17.
(4.) The offer they make is very fair and kind,
v. 19. that if they thought the land of their pos-
01
JOSHUA, XXII.
session unclean for want of an altar, and therefore
could not be easy without one, rather than they
should set up another in competition with that of
Shiloh, they should be welcome to come back to
the land where the Lord's tabernacle was, and set¬
tle there, and they would very willingly straiten
themselves to make room for them. By this they
showed a sincere and truly pious zeal against
schism, that rather than their brethren should have
any occasion to set up a separate altar, though their
pretence for it, as here supposed, was very weak,
and grounded upon a great mistake, yet they were
willing to part with a considerable share of the land
which God himself had by the lot assigned them,
to comprehend them and take them in among them.
This was the spirit of Israelites indeed.
21. Then the children of Reuben, and
the children of Gad, and the half tribe of
Manasseh, answered and said unto the
heads of the thousands of Israel, 22. The
Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods,
he knoweth, and Israel he shall know ; if it
be in rebellion, or if in transgression against
the Lord, (save us not this day,) 23. That
we have built us an altar to turn from fol¬
lowing Ihe Lord, or if to offer thereon
burnt-offering or meat-offering, or if to offer
peace-offerings thereon, let the Lord him¬
self require it; 24. And if we have not
rather done it for fear of this thing, say ing,
In time to come your children might speak
unto our children, saying, What have you
to do with the Lord God of Israel ? 25.
For the Lord hath made Jordan a border
between us and you ; ye children of Reu¬
ben, and children of Gad, ye have no part
in the Lord : so shall your children make
our children cease from fearing the Lord.
26. Therefore we said, Let us now prepare
to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering,
nor for sacrifice : 27. But that it may be a
witness between us and you, and our gene¬
rations after us, that we might do the ser¬
vice of the Lord before him with our
burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and
with our peace-offerings ; that your children
may not say to our children in time to come,
Ye have no part in the Lord. 28. There¬
fore said we, that it shall be, when they
should so say to us, or to our generations in
time to come, that we may say again , Be¬
hold the pattern of the altar of the Lord,
which our fathers made, not for burnt-offer¬
ings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness
between us and you. 29. God forbid that
we should rebel against the Lord, and turn
this day from following the Lord, to build
an altar for burnt-offerings, for meat-offer¬
ings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the
Lord our God that is before his tabernacle.
We may suppose there was a general convention
called cf the princes and great men of the separate
tribes, to give audience to these ambassadors; or
perhaps, the army, as it came home, were still en¬
camped together in a body, and not yet dispersed;
however it was, there were enough to represent the
two tribes and a half, and to give their sense.
Their reply to the warm remonstrance of the
ten tribes is very fair and ingenuous. They do not
retort their charge, upbraid them with the injus¬
tice and unkindness of their threatenings, or re¬
proach them for their rash and hasty censures; but
give them that soft answer which turns away
wrath, avoiding all those grievous words which stir
up anger; they demur not to their jurisdiction, nor
plead that they were not accountable to them for
what they had done, nor bid them mind their own
business; but, by a free and open declaration of
their sincere intention in what they did, free them¬
selves from the imputation they were under, and
set themselves right in the opinion of their bre¬
thren; to do which they only needed to state the
case, and put the matter in a true light.
I. They solemnly protest against any design to
use this altar for sacrifice or offering, and therefore
were far from setting it up in competition with the
altar at Shiloh, or from entertaining the least
thought of deserting that. They had indeed set
up that which had the shape and fashion of an altar,
but they had not dedicated it to a religious use, had
had no solemnity of its consecration, and therefore
ought not to be charged with a design to put it to
any such use. To gain credit to this protestation,
here is,
1. A solemn appeal to God concerning it, with
which they begin their defence, intending thereby
to give glory to God first, and then to give satisfac¬
tion to their brethren, v. 22.
(1.) A profound awe and reverence of God are ex¬
pressed in the form of their appeal; The Lord God
of gods, the J.ord God of gods, he knows. Or, as it
might lie read somewhat closer to the original, 7 he
God of gods, Jehovah, the God of gods, Jehovah, he
knows; which bespeaks his self-existence and self-
sufficiency, he is Jehovah, and has sovereignty and
supremacy over all beings and powers whatsoever,
even those that are called gods, or that are wor¬
shipped. This brief confession of their faith would
help to obviate and remove their brethren’s suspi¬
cion of them, as if they intended to desert the God
of Israel, and worship other gods: how could they
entertain such a thought, who believed him to be
God over all? Let us learn hence always to speak
of God with reverence and seriousness, and to men¬
tion his name with a solemn pause. Those who
make their appeals to heaven with a slight, care¬
less, “ God knows!” have reason to fear lest they
take his name in vain, for it is very unlike this
here.
(2. ) It is a great confidence of their own integrity,
which they express in the matter of their appeal.
They refer the controversy to the God of gods,
whose judgment, we are sure, is according to truth,
such as the guilty have reason to dread, and the up¬
right to rejoice in. “ If it be in rebellion or trans¬
gression that we have built this altar, to confront
the altar of the Lord at Shiloh, to make a party, or
to set up any new gods or worships;” [1.] “He
knows it, v. 22. for he is perfectly acquainted with
the thoughts and intents of the heart, and particu¬
larly with all inclinations to idolatry, Ps. 44. 20, 21.
that is in a particular manner before him, we be¬
lieve he knows it, and we cannot by any arts con¬
ceal it from him.” [2.] “ Let him require it, as we
know he will, for he is a jealous God.” Nothing
but a clear conscience would have thus imprecated
divine justice to avenge the rebellion, if there had
been any. Note, First, In every thing we do in re¬
ligion, it highly concerns us to appr. ve ourselves to
God in our integrity therein, remembering that he
92
JOSHUA, XXII.
knows the heart. Secondly, When we fall under
the censures of men, it is very comfortable to be
able with a humble confidence to appeal to God
concerning our sincerity. See 1 Cor. 4. 3, 4.
2. A sober apology presented to their brethren.
Israel, he shall know. Though the record on high,
and the witness in our bosoms, are principally to be
made sure for us, yet there is a satisfaction besides,
which we owe to our brethren, who doubt concern¬
ing our integrity, and which we should be ready to
give with meekness and fear. . If our sincerity be
known to God, we should study likewise to let
others know it by its fruits, especially those, who,
though they mistake us, yet show a zeal for the
glory of God, as the ten tribes here did.
3. A serious abjuration or renunciation of the de¬
sign which they were suspected to be guilty of.
With this they conclude their defence, v. 29. “ God
forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, as we
own we should, if we had set up this altar for burnt-
offerings; no, we abhor the thought of it. We have
as great a value and veneration for the altar of the
Lord at Shiloh, as any of the tribes of Israel have,
and are as firmly resolved to adhere to it, and con¬
stantly to attend it; we have the same concern that
you have for the purity of God’s worship, and the
unity of his church ; far be it, far be it from us, to
think of turning away from following God.”
II. They fully explain their true intent and
meaning in building this altar; and we have all the
reason in the world to believe that it is a true re¬
presentation of their design, and not advanced now
to palliate it afterward; as we have reason to think
that these same persons meant very honestly, when
they petitioned to have their lot on that side Jordan,
though then also it was their unhappiness to be mis¬
understood even by Moses himself.
In their vindication they make it out, that the
building of this altar was so far from being a step
toward a separation from their brethren, and from
the altar of the Lord at Shiloh, that, on the contra¬
ry, it was really designed for a pledge and preser¬
vative of their communion with their brethren, and
with the altar of God, and a token of their resolu¬
tion to do the service o f the Lord before him, v. 2 7.
and to continue to do so.
1. They gave an account of the fears they had,
lest in process of time, their posterity, being seated
at such a distance from the tabernacle, should be
looked upon and treated as strangers to the com¬
monwealth of Israel, v. 24. it was for fear of this
thing, and the word signifies a great perplexity and
solicitude of mind which they were in, until they
eased themselves by this expedient. As they were
returning home, (and we may suppose it was not
thought of before, else they would have made
Joshua acquainted with their purpose,) some of
them in dicourse started this matter, and the rest
took the hint, and represented to themselves and
one another, a very melancholy prospect of what
might, probably, happen in after-ages, that their
children would be looked upon by the other tribes
as having no interest in the altar of God, and the
sacrifices there offered. Now indeed they were
owned as brethren, and were as welcome at the ta¬
bernacle as any other of the tribes; but what if their
children after them should be disowned? They by
reason of their distance, and the interposition of
Jordan, which it was not easy at all times to pass
and repass, could not be so numerous and constant
in their attendance on the three yearly feasts as the
other tribes to make a continual claim to the privi¬
leges of Israelites, and would therefore be looked
upon as inconsiderable members of their church,
and by degrees would be rejected as not members
of it at all, so shall your children, (who in their
pride will be apt to monopolize the privileges of the
altar,) make our children (who perhaps will not be
so careful as they ought to be to keep hold of those
privileges) cease from fearing the Lord. Note, (1.)
They that are cut off from public ordinances, are
likely to lose all religion, 'and will by degrees ^ase
from fearing the Lord. Though the form and pro¬
fession of godliness are kept up by many without
the life and power of it, yet the life and power of it
will not long be kept up without the form and pro¬
fession of it. You take away grace, if you take away
the means of grace. (2.) They who have them¬
selves found the comfort and benefit of God’s ordi¬
nances, cannot but desire to preserve and perpetuate
the entail of them upon their seed, and use all pos¬
sible precautions that their children after them
may not be made to cease from following the Lord,
or be looked upon as having no part in him.
2. The project they had to prevent this, v. 26- •
28. “Therefore to secure an interest in the altar
of God to those who shall come after us, and to
prove their title to it, we said, Let us build an altar,
to be a witness between us and you.” That having
this copy of the altar in their custody, it might be
produced as an evidence of their right to the privi¬
leges of the original. Every one that saw this altar,
and observed it was never used for sacrifice and of¬
fering, would inquire what was the meaning of it,
and this answer would be given to that inquiry, that
it was built by those separate tribes, in token of
their communion with their brethren, and their
joint-interest with them in the altar of the Lord.
Christ is the great Altar that sanctifies every gift;
the best evidence of our interest in him will be the
pattern of his Spirit in our hearts, and our confor¬
mity to him : if we can produce that, it will be testi¬
mony for us, that we have a fart in the Lord, and
an earnest for our perseverance in following him.
30. And when Phinehas the priest, and
the princes of the congregation, and heads
of the thousands of Israel which were with
him, heard the words that the children of
Reuben and the children of Gad, and the
children of Manasseh, spake, it pleased
them. 31. And Phinehas the son of Elea*
zar the priest said unto the children of Reu¬
ben, and to the children of Gad, and to the
children of Manasseh, This day we perceive
that the Lord is among us, because ye have
not committed this trespass against the
Lord : now ye have delivered the children
of Israel out of the hand of the Lord. 32.
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
and the princes, returned from the children
of Reuben, and from the children of Gad,
out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of
Canaan, to the children of Israel, and
brought them word again. 33. And the
thing pleased the children of Israel ; and
the children of Israel blessed God, and did
not intend to go up against them in battle,
to destroy the land wherein the children of
Reuben and Gad dwelt. 34. And the
children of Reuben, and the children of Gad,
called the altar Ed : for it shall he a witness
between us that the Lord is God.
We have here the good issue of this controversy,
which, if there had not been on both sides a dispo¬
sition to peace, as there was on both sides a zeal for
JOSHUA, XXIII.
9.3
(rod, might have been of ill consequence; for quar¬
rels about religion, for want of wisdom and love,
often prove the most fierce and most difficult to be
taken up. But these contending parties, when the
matter was fairly stated and argued, were so happy
as to understand one another very well, and so the
difference was presently compromised.
1. The ambassadors" were exceedingly pleased,
when the separate tribes had given in a protesta¬
tion of the innocency of their intentions in building
this altar. (1.) The ambassadors did not call in
question their sincerity in that protestation, did not
s iv, “You tell us you design it not for sacrifice and
offering, but who can believe you? What security
will you give us that it shall never be so used?5’
No, charity believes all things, hopes all things, be¬
lieves and hopes the best, and is very loath to give
the lie to any.
(2. ) They did not upbraid them with the rashness
and unadvisedness of this action; did not tell them,
“ If you would do such a thing, and with this good
intention, yet you might have had that respect for
Joshua and Eleazar, as to have advised with them,
or at least have made them acquainted with it, and
so have saved the trouble and expense of this em¬
bassy.” But a little want of consideration and good
manners should be excused and overlooked in those
who, we have reason to think, mean honestly. (3.)
Much less did they go about to fish for evidence to
make out their charge, because they had once exhi¬
bited it, but were glad to have their mistake recti¬
fied, and were not at all ashamed to own it. Proud
and peevish spirits, when they have past an unjust
censure upon their brethren, though never so much
convincing evidence be brought of the injustice of it,
will stand to it, and can by no means be persuaded
to retract it. These ambassadors were not so pre¬
judiced; their brethren’s vindication pleased them,
v. 30. They looked upon their innocency as a token
of God’s presence, v. 31. especially when they
found what was done, was so far from being an in¬
dication of their growing cool to the altar of God,
that, on the contrary, it was a fruit of their zealous
affection to it; Ye have delivered the children of Is¬
rael out of the hand of the Lord, that is, “You
have not, as we feared, delivered them into the hand
of the Lord, or exposed them to his judgments, by
the trespass we were jealous of.”
2. The congregation was abundantly satisfied,
when their ambassadors reported to them their
brethren’s apology for what they had done. It
should seem, they staid together, at least by their
representatives, until they heard the issue, v. 32.
And when they understood the truth of the matter,
it pleased them, v. 33. and they blessed God.
Note, Our brethren’s constancy in religion, their
zeal for the power of godliness, and their keeping
the unity of the Spirit in faith and love, notwith¬
standing the jealousies conceived of them as break¬
ing the unity of the church , are things which we
should be very glad to be satisfied of, and should
make the matter both of our rejoicing and of our
thanksgiving; let God have the glory of it, and let
us take the comfort of it. Being thus satisfied, they
laid down their arms immediately, and were so far
from any thoughts of prosecuting the war they had
been meditating against their brethren, that we may
suppose them wishing for the next feast, when they
should meet them at Shiloh.
3. The separate tribes were gratified, and since
they had a mind to preserve among them this pat¬
tern of the altar of ( Jod, though there was not likely
to be that occasion for it which they fancied, yet
Joshua and the princes let them have their humour,
and did not give orders for the demolishing of it,
though there was as much reason to fear that it
might in process of time be an occasion of idolatry,
as there was to hope that ever it might be a preser¬
vation from idolatry. Thus did the strong bear the
infirmities of the weak. Only , care was taken that they
having explained the meaning of their altar, that
it was intended for no more than a testimony of theft
communion with the altar at Shiloh, this explana
tion should be recorded, which was done according
to the usage of those times, by giving a name to it,
signifying so much, v. 34. they called it Ed, a wit¬
ness, to that and no more. A witness of the relation
they stood in to God and Israel, and of their concur¬
rence with the rest of the tribes in the same common
faith, that Jehovah he is God, he and no other. It
was a witness to posterity of their care to transmit
their religion pure and entire to them, and would
be a witness against them if ever they should forsake
God, and turn from following after him.
CHAP. XXIII.
In this and the following- chapter we have two farewell ser¬
mons, which Joshua preached to the people of Israel a
little before his death. Had he designed to gratify the
curiosity of succeeding ages, he would rather have re¬
corded the method of Israel’s settlement in their new
conquests, their husbandry, manufactures, trade, cus¬
toms, courts of justice, and the constitutions of their
infant commonwealth, which one would wish to be
informed of; but that which he intended in the registers
of this book, was, to entail on posterity a sense of reli¬
gion and their duty to God; and therefore, overlooking
these things which are the usual subjects of a common
history, he here transmits to his reader the methods he
took to persuade Israel to be faithful to their covenant
with their God, which might have a good influence on the
generations to come who should read those reasonings,
as we may hope they had on that generation which then
heard them. In this chapter we nave, I. A convention
of the states called, v. 1, 2. probably to consult about
the common concerns of their land, and to set in order
that which, after some years’ trial, being left to their
prudence, was found wanting. II. Joshua’s speech to
them at the opening, or perhaps, at the concluding, of
the sessions, to hear which w as the principal design of
their coming together. In it, 1. Joshua reminds them
of what God had done for them, v. 3, 4, 9, 14. and what
he was ready to do yet further, v. 5, 10. 2. He exhorts
them carefully and resolutely to persevere in their auty
to God, v. 6, 8, 11. III. He cautions them against all
familiarity with their idolatrous inmates, v. 7. IV. He
gives them fair warning of the fatal consequences of it,
if they should revolt from God and turn to idols, v. 12,
13, 13, 16. In all which he showed himself zealous for
his God, and jealous over Israel with a godly jealousy.
1. A ND it came to pass, a long time af-
A ter that the Lord had given rest
unto Israel from all their enemies round
about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken
in age. 2. And Joshua called for all Israel,
and for their elders, and for their heads, and
for their judges, and for their officers, and
said unto them, I am old and stricken in
age: 3. And ye have seen all that the
Lord your God hath done unto all these
nations because of you : for the Lord your
God is he that hath fought for you. 4. Be¬
hold, I have divided unto you by lot these
nations that remain, to be an inheritance for
your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations
that I have cut off, even unto the great sea
westward. 5. And the Lord your God,
he shall expel them from before you, and
drive them from out of your sight; and ye
shall possess their land, as the Lord your
God hath promised unto you 6. Be ye
94
JOSHUA, xxin.
therefore vorv courageous, to keep aud to do
all that is written in the book of the law of
M oses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to
the right hand or to the left ; 7. That ye
come not among these nations, these that
remain among you ; neither make mention
of the name of their gods, nor cause to
swear by them , neither serve them, nor bow
yourselves unto them : 3. But cleave unto
the Lord your God, as ye have done unto
this day. 9. For the Lord hath driven out
from before you great nations and strong :
but ns for you, no man hath been able to
stand before you unto this day. 10. One
man of you shall chase a thousand : for the
Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for
you, as he hath promised you.
As to the date of this edict of Joshua’s,
I. No mention at all is made of the place where
this general assembly was held; some think it was
at Timnath-serah, Joshua’s own city, where he
lived, and whence, being old, he could not well re¬
move: but it does not appear that he took so much
state upon him, therefore it is more probable this
meeting was at Shiloh, where the tabernacle of
meeting was, and to which place, perhaps, all the
males that could, were now come up to worship be¬
fore the Lord, at one of the three great feasts,
which Joshua took the opportunity of, for the deli¬
vering of this charge to them.
II. There is only a general mention of the time
when this was done. It was long after the Lord
had given them rest, but it is not said how long, v.
1. It was, 1. So long as that Israel had time to feel
the comforts ol their rest and possessions in Canaan,
and to enjoy the advantages of that good land. 2.
So long as that Joshua had time to observe which
way their danger lav of being corrupted, namely, by
their intimacy with the Canaanites, that remained,
against which he is therefore careful to arm them.
III. The persons to whom Joshua made this
speech, to all Israel, even their elders, 8tc. So it
might be read, v. 2. they could not all come within
hearing, but he called for all the elders, that is, the
privy-counsellors, which in latter times constituted
the great Sanhedrim, the heads of the tribes, that
is, the noblemen and gentlemen of their respective
countries, the judges learned in the laws, that tried
criminals and causes, and gave judgment upon
them — and, lastly, the officers or sheriffs, who were
intrusted with the execution of those judgments.
These Joshua called together, and to them he ad¬
dressed himself, 1. That they might communicate
what he said, or at least the sense and substance of
it, to those under them in their respective countries,
and so this charge might be dispersed through the
whole nation. 2. Because if they would be prevail¬
ed with to serve God and cleave to him, they, by
their influence on the common people, would keep
them right. If great men be good men, they will
help to make many good men.
IV. Joshua’s circumstances when he gave them
this charge; he was old and stricken in age, v. 1.
probably, it was in the last year of his life, and he
lived to be one hundred and ten years old, ch. 24. 29.
And he himself takes notice of it, in the first words
of his discourse, v. 2. when he began to be old, some
years ago, God reminded him of it, ch. 13. 1,
Thou art old. But now that he did himself feel so
much of the decavs of age that he needed not to be
told of it, he readily speaks of it himself, lam old
and stricken in age. He uses it, 1. As an argument
with himself to give them this charge, because be¬
ing old he could expect to be but a little while with
them to advise and instruct them, and therefore
(as St. Peter speaks, 2 Pet. 1. 13.) as long as he is
in this tabernacle , he will take all opportunities to
put them in remembrance of their duty, knowing
by the increasing infirmities of age, that he must
shortly put off this tabernacle, and desiring that af¬
ter his decease they might continue as good as they
were now. When we see death hastening towards
us, that should quicken us to do the work of dfe
with all our might. 2. As an argument with them
to give heed to what he said. He was old and ex¬
perienced, and therefore to be the more regarded,
for days should speak; he was grown old m their
service, and had spent himself for their good, and
therefore was to be the more regarded by them.
He was old and dying, they would not have him
long to preach to them, therefore let them observe
what he said now, and lay it up in store for the
time to come.
V. The discourse itself, the scope of which is to
engage them, if possible, them, and their seed after
them, to persevere in the true faith and worship of
the God of Israel.
1. He puts them in mind of the great things God
had done for them, now in his days, and under his
administration, for here he goes no further back.
And for the proof of this, he appeals to their own
eves, x'. 3, “ Ye have seen all that the Lord your
Clod hath done, not what I have done, oT what you
have done, we were only instruments in God’s hand,
but what God himself has done by me, and for you.”
(1.) “ Many great and mighty nations (as the rate of
nations then went) were driven out from as fine a
country as any was at that time upon the face of the
earth, to make room for Israel.” “You see what
he has done to these nations who were his creatures,
the work of his hands, and whom he could have
made new creatures, and fit for his service; yet see
what destruction he has made of them because of
you, v. 3. how he has driven them out from before
you, v. 9. as if they were of no account with him,
though great and strong in comparison with you.”
(2.) They were not only driven out, (that they
might have been, and yet sent to some other coun¬
try less rich, to begin a new plantation there, sup¬
pose to that wilderness in wit fch Israel had wander¬
ed so long, and so they had only exchanged seats
with them,) but they were trodden down before
them; though they held out against them with the
greatest obstinacy that could be, yet they were
subdued before them, which made the possessing
of their land so much the more glorious to Israel,
and so much the more illustrious an instance of the
power and goodness of the God of Israel, v. 3.
“ The Lord your God has not only led you, and fed
you, and kept you, but he has fought for you as a
man of war, by which title he was known among
them when he first brought them out of Egypt,
Exod. 15. 3. So clear and cheap were all their
victories during the course of th)s long war, that no
man had been able to stand before them, v. 9. that is,
to make head against them, so as either to put
them in fear, create them any difficulty, or give
any check to the progress of their victorious arms.
In every battle they carried the day, and in every
siege they carried the city; their loss before Ai was
upon a particular occasion, was inconsiderable, and
only served to show them on what terms thev stood
with God; but otherwise, never was army crowned
with such a constant uninterrupted series of succes¬
ses, as the armies of Israel were in the wars of Ca¬
naan. (3.) They had not only conquered the Ca
naanites, but were put in full possession of their
land, v. 4, “ I have divided to you by lot these na
95
JOSHUA, XXIII.
tions, botli those which are cut off, and those which [
remain, not only that you may spoil and plunder
them, and live at discretion in them for a time, but
to be a sure and lasting inheritance for your tribes.
You have it not only under your feet, but in your
hands. ”
2. He assures them of God’s readiness to carry
on, and complete, this glorious work in due time. It
is true, some of the Canaanites did yet remain, and
in some places were strong and daring, but that
should be no disappointment to their expectations;
when Israel was so multiplied as to be able to re¬
plenish this land, God would expel the Canaanites
to the last man, provided Israel would pursue their
advantages, and carry on the war against them with
vigour, v. 5, “ The Lord your God will drive
them from out of your sight, so that there shall not
be a Canaanite to be seen in the land; and even that
part of the country which is yet in their hands, ye
shall possess. ” If it were objected, that, the men
of war of the several tribes being dispersed to their
respective countries, and the army disbanded, it
would be difficult to get them together when there
was occasion to renew the war upon the remainder
of the Canaanites; in answer to that, he tells them
what little need they had to be in care about the
numbers of their forces, v. 10, One man of you
shall chase a thousand, as Jonathan did, 1 Sam.
14. 13. “ Each tribe may venture for itself, and
for the recovery of its own lot, without fearing dis¬
advantage by the disproportion of numbers; for
the Lord your God, whose all power is, both to in-
spirit and to rfispirit, and who has all creatures at
his beck, he it is, that fghteth for you; and how
many do you reckon him for?”
3. He hereupon most earnestly charges them to
adhere to their duty, to go on and persevere in the
good ways of the Lord wherein they were so well set
out. He exhorts them,
(1. ) To be very courageous, v. 6. “ God fighteth
for you against your enemies, do you therefore be¬
have yourselves valiantly for him. Keep and do
with a firm resolution all that is written in the book
of the law.” He presses upon them no more than
what they were already bound to. “Keep with
care, do with diligence, and eye what is written
with sincerity.”
(2.) To be very cautious. “ Take heed of missing
it, either on the right hand, or on the left, for there
are errors and extremes on both hands. Take heed ;
of running either into a profane neglect of any of
God’s institutions, or into a superstitious addition of
any of your own inventions.” They must especially
take heed of all approaches toward idolatry, the sin
to which they were first inclined, and wTould be
most tempted, v. 7. [1.] They must not acquaint
themselves with idolaters, nor come among them to
visit them, or be present at any of their feasts or
entertainments, for they could not contract any inti¬
macy, or keep up any conversation with them,
without danger of infection. [2.] They must not
show the least respect to any idol, nor make men¬
tion of the name of their Gods, but endeavour to
bury the remembrance of them in perpetual obli¬
vion, that the worship of them may never be re¬
vived; let the very name of them be forgotten.
“ Look upon idols as filthy detestable things, not to
be named without the utmost loathing and detesta¬
tion.” The Jews would not suffer their children to
name swine’s flesh, because it was forbidden, lest
the naming of it should occasion their desiring of it;
but if they had occasion to speak of it, they must
call it, that strange thing. It is. pity, that among
Christians the names of the heathen gods are so '
commonly used, and made so familiar as they are,
especially in plays and poems: Let these names
which have been set up in rivalship with God, be
for ever loathed and lost. [3.] They must not
countenance others in showing respect to them.
They must not only not swear by them themselves,
but they must not cause others to swear by them,
which supposes that they must not make any cove¬
nants with idolaters, because they, in the confirming
of their covenants, would swear by their idols; ne\ er
let Israelites admit such an oath. [4.] They must
take heed of these occasions of idolatry, lest by de¬
grees they should arrive at the highest step of it,
which was serving false gods, and bowing down to
them, against the letter of the second command¬
ment.
(3.) To be very constant, v. 8. Cleave unto the
Lord your God, that is, “ delight in him, depend
upon him, devote yourseh es to his glory, and con¬
tinue to do so to the end, as you have done unto
this day, ever since you came to Canaan;” for, being
willing to make the best of them, he looks not so
far back as the iniquity of Pec r. There might be
many things amiss among them, but they had not
forsaken the Lord their God, and it is in order to
insinuate his exhortation to perseverance wTith the
more pleasing power, that he praises them. “ Go
on and prosper, for the Lord is with you while you
are with him.” Those that command, should com¬
mend; the way to make people better, is, to make
the best of them. “ You have cleaved to the Lord
unto this day, therefore go on to do so, else you lose
the praise and recompense of what you ha\e
wrought. Your righteousness will not be mentioned
unto you, if you turn from it. ”
11. Take good heed therefore unto your¬
selves, that ye love the Lord your God. 12.
Else if ye. do in any wise go back, and
cleave unto the remnant of these nations,
even these that remain among you, and
shall make marriages with them, and go in
unto them, and they to you : 1 3. Know for
a certainty that the Lord your God will
no more drive out any of these nations from
before you ; but they shall be snares and
traps unto you, and scourges in your sides,
and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from
off this good land, which the Lord your God
hath given you. 14. And, behold, this day
I am going the way of all the earth : and ye
know in all your hearts, and in all your
souls, that not one thing hath failed of all
the good things which the Lord your God
spake concerning you ; all are come to pass
unto you, and not one thing hath failed
thereof. 15. Therefore it shall come to
pass, that as all good things are come upon
you, which the Lord your God promised
you ; so shall the Lord bring upon you all
evil things, until he have destroyed you from
off this good land which the Lord your
God hath given you. 16. When ye have
transgressed the covenant of the Lord
your God, which he commanded you, and
have gone and served other gods, and bow¬
ed yourselves to them ; then shall the anger
of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye
shall perish quickly from off the good land
which he hath given unto you.
Here,
% JOSHUA, XXIV.
I. Joshua directs them what to do, that they
might persevere in religion, v. 11. Would we
cleave to the Lord, and not forsake him, 1. We
must always stand upon our guard, for many a pre¬
cious soul is lost and ruined through carelessness;
“Take heed therefoi'e, take good heed to your¬
selves, to your souls, (so the word is,) that the in¬
ward man be kept clean from the pollutions of sin,
and closely employed in the service of God. God
has given us precious souls, with this charge,
“ Take good heed to them, keep them with all di¬
ligence, above all keepings.” 2. What we do in re¬
ligion, we must do from a principal of love, not by
constraint or from a slavish fear of God, but of
choice and with delight. “ Love the Lord your
God, and you will not leave him.”
II. He urges God’s fidelity to them as an argu¬
ment why they should be faithful to him, v. 14, “7
am going the way of all the earth, I am old and dy¬
ing:” to die, is to go a journey, a journey to our
long home; it is the way of all the earth, the way
that all mankind must go, sooner or later. Joshua
himself, though so great and good a man, and one
that could so ill be spared, cannot be exempted
from this common lot. He takes notice of it here,
that they might look upon these as his dying words,
and regard them accordingly. Or thus, “ 7 am dy¬
ing, and leaving you, me ye have not always, but if
you cleave to the Lord, he will never leave you.”
Or thus, “ Now that I am near my end, it is proper
to look back upon the years that are past; and in
the review, I find, and ye yourselves know it in all
your hearts, and in all your souls, by a full convic¬
tion on the clearest evidence, and the thing has
made an impression upon you,” (that knowledge
does us good, which is seated, not in the head only,
but in the heart and soul, and with which we are
duly affected,) “ye know that not one thing hath
failed, of all the good things which the Lord sfiake
concerning you;” (and he speaks a great many;)
see cli. 21. 45. God had promised them victory,
rest, plenty, his tabernacle among them, c. and
not one thing had failed of all he had promised.
“Now,” said he, “ has God been thus true to you?
Be not you false to him.” It is the apostle’s argu¬
ment for perseverance, Heb. 10. 23, He is faithful
that has promised.
III. He gives them fair warning, what would be
the fatal consequences of apostasy, v. 12, 13, 15, 16.
“ If you go back, know for a certainty it will be
your ruin. ” Observe,
1. How he describes the apostasy which he
warns them against. The steps of it would be, v.
12. growing intimate with idolaters, who would
craftily wheedle them, and insinuate themselves
into their acquaintance, now that they were be¬
come lords of the country, to serve their own ends.
The next step would be intermarrying with them,
drawn to it by their artifices, who would be glad to
bestow their children upon these wealthy Israelites.
And the consequence of that would be, v. 16. serv¬
ing their gods, (which were pretended to be the
ancient deities of the country,) and bowing down to
them. Thus the way of sin is down-hill, and those
who have fellowship with sinners, cannot avoid
having fellowship with sin. This he represents, ( 1. )
As a base and shameful desertion ; “ it is going back
from what you have so well begun,” v. 12. (2.)
As a most perfidious breach of promise, v. 16. “ It
is a transgression of the covenant of the Lord your
God, which he commanded you, and which you
yourselves set your hand to.” Other sins were
transgressions of the law God commanded them,
but this was a transgression of the covenant that he
commanded them, and amounted to a breach of the
relation between God and them, and a forfeiture of
all the benefits of the covenant.
2. How he describes the destruction which he
warns them of. He tells them, (1.) That these
remainders of the Canaanites, if they should har¬
bour them, and indulge them, and join in affinity
with them, would be snares and traps to them, both
to draw them to sin, (not only to idolatry, but to all
immoralities, which would be the ruin, not only of
their virtue, but of their wisdom and sense, their
spirit and honour,) and also to draw them into fool¬
ish bargains, unprofitable projects, and all manner
of inconveniences; and having thus by underhand
practices decoyed them into one mischief or other,
so as to gain advantages against them, they would
then act more openly, and be scourges in their
sides, and thorns in their eyes, would perhaps kill
or drive away their cattle, burn or steal their com,
alarm or plunder their houses, and would by all
ways possible be vexatious to them : for, whatever
pretences of friendship they might make, a Ca-
naanite, unless proselyted to the faith and worship
of the true God, would in every age hate the very
name and sight of an Israelite. See how the punish¬
ment would be made to answer the sin, nay, how
the sin itself would be the punishment. (2.) That
the anger of the Lord would be kindled against
them. Their making leagues with the Canaanites,
would not only give them the opportunity of doing
them a mischief, and be the fostering of snakes in
their bosoms, it would likewise provoke God to be¬
come their enemy, and would kindle the fire of his
displeasure against them. (3.) That all the threat-
enings of the word would be fulfilled, as the pro¬
mises had, for the God of eternal truth is faithful to
both, v. 15. “ As all good things have come upon
you according to the promise, so long as you have
kept close to God, so all evil things will come upon
you according to the threatening, if you forsake
him.” Moses had set before them good and evil;
they had experienced the good, and were now in
the enjoyment of it, and the evil would as certainly
come, if they were disobedient. As God’s promises
are not a fool’s paradise, so his threatenings are not
bugbears. (4. ) That it would end in the utter ruin
of their church and nation, as Moses had foretold.
This is three times mentioned here. Your enemies
will vex you until ye perish from off this good land,
v. 13. Again, “ God will plague you until he have
destroy edyou from off this good land, v. 15. Heaven
and earth will concur to root you out. So that, v.
16, ye shall perish from off the good land. ” It will
aggravate their perdition, that the land from which
they shall perish, is a good land, and a land which
God himself had given them, and which therefore
he would have secured to them, if they by their
wickedness had not thrown themselves out of it
Thus the goodness of the heavenly Canaan, and
the free and future grant God has made of it, will
aggravate the misery of those that shall for ever be
shut out and perish from it. Nothing will make
them see how wretched they are, so much as to see
how happy they might have been. Joshua thus
sets before them the fatal consequences of their
apostasy, that, knowing the terror of the Lord,
they might be persuaded with purpose of heart to
cleave to him.
CHAP. XXIV.
This chapter concludes the life and reign of Joshua^in
which we have, 1. The great care and pains he took to
confirm the people of Israel in the true faith and worship
of God, that they might, after his death, persevere there¬
in. In order to this, he called another general assembly
of the heads of the congregation of Israel, v. 1. and dealt
with them, 1. By way of narrative, recounting the
great things God had done for them and their fathers,, v.
2.. 13. 2. By way of charge to them, in consideration
thereof, to serve God, v. 14. 3. By wav of treaty with
them, wherein he aims to bring them, (1.) To make rcli
JOSHUA, XXIV.
gion their deliberate choice; and they did so, with rea¬
sons for their choice, v. 15- .18. (2.) To make it their
determinate choice, and to resolve to adhere to it, v. 19
..24. 4. By way of covenant upon that treaty, v. 25..
28. II. The conclusion of this history, with, 1. The
death and burial of Joshua, v. 29, 30. and Eleazar, v.
33. and the mention of the burial of Joseph’s bones upon
that occasion, v. 32. 2. A general account of the State
of Israel at that time, v. 31.
1. | ND Joshua gathered all the tribes of
JTlL Israel to Shechem, and called for the
elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for
their judges, and for their officers ; and they
presented themselves before God. 2. And
Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith
the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers
dwelt on the other side of the flood in old
time, even Terah, the father of Abraham,
and the father of Nachor: and they served
other gods. 3. And I took your father
Abraham from the other side of the flood,
and led him throughout all the land of Ca¬
naan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him
Isaac. 4. And 1 gave unto Isaac, Jacob
and Esau ; and 1 gave unto Esau mount
Seir, to possess it : but Jacob and his chil¬
dren went down into Egypt. 5. I sent Mo¬
ses also and Aaron, and 1 plagued Egypt,
according to that which I did among them :
and afterward I brought you out. 6. And
I brought your fathers out of Egypt : and
you came unto the sea; and the Egyptians
pursued after your fathers with chariots and
horsemen unto the Red Sea. 7. And when
they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness
between you and the Egyptians, and
brought the sea upon them, and covered
them : and your eyes have seen what
I have done in Egypt : and ye dwelt
in the wilderness a long season. 8. And
I brought you into the land of the Am-
orites, which dwelt on the other side
Jordan ; and they fought with you : and I
gave them into your hand, that ye might
possess their land ; and I destroyed them
from before you. 9. Then Balak the son
of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred
against Israel, and sent and called Balaam
the son of Beor to curse you : 10. But I
would not hearken unto Balaam ; therefore
he blessed you still: so I delivered you out
of his hand. 1 1. And ye went over Jordan,
and came unto Jericho : and the men of
Jericho fought against you, the Amorites,
and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites,
and th^ Hittites, and the Girgashites, the
Hivites, and the Jebusites ; and. I delivered
them into your hand. 12. And I sent the
hornet before you, which drave them out
from before you, even the two kings of the
Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with
thy bow. 13. And I have given you a land
Vol. ii.— N
for which ye did not labour, and cities which
ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the
vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted
not, do ye eat. 14. Now therefore fear the
L( rd, and serve him in sincerity and in
truth : and put away the Gods which your
fathers served on the other side of the flood,
and in Egypt ; and serve ye the Lord.
Joshua thought he had taken his last farewell of
Israel, in the solemn charge he gave them in the
foregoing chapter, when he said, I go (he ’way of
all the earth; but God graciously continuing his life
longer than he expected, and renewing his strength,
he was desirous to improve it for the good of Israel:
he did not say, “ I have taken my leave of them
once, and let that serve;” but, having yet a longer
space given him, he summons them together again,
that he might try what more he could do to engage
them for God. Note, We must never think our
work for God done, till our life is done; and if he
lengthen out our days beyond what we thought, we
must conclude it is because he has some further ser¬
vice for us to do.
The assembly is the same with that in the fore¬
going chapter, the elders, heads, judges and officers
of Israel, v. 1. But it is here made something
more solemn than it was there.
I. The place appointed for their meeting is She-
chem, nr t only because that lay nearer to Joshua
than Shiloh, and therefore more convenient now
that he was infirm and unfit for travelling, but be¬
cause it was the place where Abraham, the first
trustee of God’s co\ enant with this people, settled
at his coming to Canaan, and where God appeared
to him, Gen. 12. 6, 7. and near which stood mount
Ger'zim and Ebal, where the people had renewed
their covenant with God at their first coming into
Canaan, Josh. 8. 30. Of the promises God had
made to their fathers, and of the promsies they
themselves had made to God, this place might serve
to put them in mind.
II. They presented themselves, not only before
Joshua, but before God, in this assembly; that is,
they came together in a solemn religious manner,
as into the special presence of God, and with an eye
to him speaking to them by Joshua; and, it is pro¬
bable, the service began with prayer. It is the
conjecture of interpreters, that upon this great oc¬
casion, Joshua ordered the ark rf God to be brought
by the priests to Shechem, which, they say, was
but, about ten miles from Shiloh, and to be set down
in the place of their meeting, which is therefore
called, v. 26, the sanctuary of the Lord, the pre¬
sence ( f the ark making it so at that time; and this
was done to grace the solemnity, and to strike an
awe upon the people that attended. We have not
now any such sensible tokens of the divine pre¬
sence, but are to believe that \vhere two or three
are gathered together in Christ’s name, he is as
really in the midst of them, as God was where the
ark was, and they are indeed presenting them¬
selves before him.
III. Joshua spake to them in God’s name, and as
from him, in the language of a prophet, v. 2.
“ Thus saith the Lord, Jehovah, the great God,
and the God of Israel, your God in covenant, whom
therefore you are bound to hear and give heed to.”
Note, The word of God is to be received by us as
his, whoever is the messenger that brings it, whose
greatness cannot add to it, nor his meanness dimin¬
ish from it.
His sermon consists of doctrine and application.
1. The doctrinal part is a history of the °re it
things God had done for his people, and for th?ir
9
JOSHUA, XXIV.
fathei-s before them. God by Joshua recounts the
marvels of old, “I did so and so.” They must
know and consider, not only that such and such
things were done, but that God did them. It is a
series of wonders that is here recorded, and perhaps
many moi-e were mentioned by Joshua, which for
brevity’s sake are here omitted. See what God
had wrought; (1.) He brought Abraham out of Ur
of the Chaldees, v. 2, 3. He and his ancestors had
served other gods there, for it was the country in
which, thoirgh celebrated for learning, idolatry, as
some think, had its rise; there the world by wisdom
knew not God. Abraham, who afterward was the
friend cf God, and the great favourite of heaven,
was bred up in idolatry and lived long in it, till God
by his grace snatched him as a brand out of that
burning. Let them remember that rock out of
which they were hewn, and not relapse into that
sin from which their fathers by a miracle of free
grace were delivered. “ I took him,” says God,
“else he had never come out of that sinful state.”
Hence Abraham’s justification is made by the apos¬
tle an instance of God’s justifying the ungodly ,
Rom. 4. 5. (2.) He brought him to Canaan, and
built up his family, led him through the land to
Shechem, where they now were, multiplied his
seed by Ishmael, who begat twelve princes, but at
last gave him Isaac the pronvsed son, aryl in him
multiplied his seed. When Isaac had two sons, Jacob
and Esau, God provided an inheritance for Esau
elsewhere in Mount Seir, that the land of Canaan
might be reserved entire for the seed of Jacob, and
the posterity of Esau might not pretend to a share in
it. (3. ) He delivered the seed of Jacob out of Egypt
with a high hand, v. 5, 6. and rescued them out of the
hands of Pharaoh and his host at the Red-sea, v.
6, 7. The same waters were the Israelites’ guard,
and the Egyptians’ grave; and this in answer to
prayer; for though we find in the story, that
they in that distress murmured against God,
Exod. 14. 11, 12. notice is here taken of their cry¬
ing to God; he graciously accepted those that pray¬
ed to him, and overlooked the folly of those that
quarrelled with him. (4.) He protected them in
the wilderness, where they are here said, not to
wander, but to dwell for a long season, v. 7. So
wisely were all their motions directed, and so safely
were they kept, that even there they had as certain
a dwelling place as if they had been in a walled
city. (5. ) He gave them the land of the Amorites,
on the other side Jordan, ?>. 8. and there defeated
the plot of Balak and Balaam against them, so that
Balaam could not curse them, as he desired, and
therefore Balak durst not fight them, as he de¬
signed, and, because he designed it, is here said to
do it. The turning of Balaam’s tongue to bless Is¬
rael, when he intended to curse them, is often men¬
tioned as an instance of the divine power put forth
in Israel’s favour, as remarkable as any other, be¬
cause in it God proved (and does still, more than
we are aware of) his dominion over the powers of
darkness, and over the spirits of men. (6.) He
brought them safely and triumphantly into Canaan,
delivered the Canaanites into their hand, v. 11, sent
hornets before them, when they were actually enga¬
ged in battle with the enemy, which with their
stings tormented them, and with their noise terri¬
fied them, so that thev became a very easy prey to
Israel. These dreadful swarms first appeared in
their war with Sihon and Og, the two kings of
the Amorites, and afterwards in their other bat¬
tles, v. 12. God had promised to do this for them,
Exod. 23. 27, 28. Deut. 7. 20. These hornets, it
should seem, annoyed the enemy more than all the
artillery of Israel, therefore he adds, not with thy
- word nor bow. It was purely the Lord’s doings.
iMst/y, They were now in the peaceable possess¬
ion of a good land, and lived comfortably upon the
fruit of other people’s labour, v. 13.
2. The application of this history of God’s mer¬
cies to them, is by way of exhortation, to fear and
serve God, in gratitude for his favour, and that it
might be continued to them, v. 14. Now therefore,
in consideration of all this, (1.) “ Fear the Lord,
the Lord and his goodness, Hos. 3. 5. Reverence
a God of such infinite power, fear to offend him, and
to forfeit his goodness. Keep up an awe of his ma¬
jesty, a deference to his authority, a dread of his
displeasure, and a continual regard to his all-seeing
eye upon you.” (2.) “ Let your practice be conso
nant to th:s principle, and serve him, both by the
outward acts of religious worship, and every in¬
stance of obedience in your whole conversation, and
this, in sincerity and truth, with a single eye and
an upright heart, and inward impressions, answer-
able to outward expressions.” That is the truth in
the inward part, which God requires, Ps. 51. 6.
For what good will it do us to dissemble with a God
that searches the heart? (3. ) Put away the strange
gods, both Chaldean and Egyptian idols, for those
they were most in danger of revolting to. It should
seem by this charge, which is repeated, v. 23. that
there were some among them that privately kept
in their closets the images or pictures of these
dunghill-deities, which came to their hands from
their ancestors, as heir-looms of their families,
though it may be, they did not worship them; these
Joshua earnestly urges them to throw away. “De¬
face them, destroy them, lest you be tempted to
serve them. ” Jacob pressed his household to do
this, and at this very place; for when they gave him
up the little images they had, he buried them wi¬
der the oak that grows by Shechem, Gen. 35. 2, 4.
Perhaps the oak mentioned here, v. 26. was the
same oak, or another in the same place, which
might be well called the oak of reformation, as
there were idolatrous oaks.
15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve
I the Lord, choose you this day whom you
! will serve ; whether the gods which your
fathers served, that were on the other side
of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in
whose land ye dwell : but as for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord. 1 6.
And the people answered and said, God
forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to
j serve other gods; 17. For the Lord our
I God, he it is that brought us up, and our fa¬
thers, out of the land of Egypt, from the
house of bondage, and which did those
great signs in our sight, and preserved us in
all the way wherein we went, and among
all the people through whom we passed :
1 8. And the Lord drave out from before
us all the people, even the Amorites which
dwelt in the land : therefore will we also
serve the Lord; for he is our God. 19.
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye can¬
not serve the Lord: for he is a holy God:
he is a jealous God ; he will not forgive
your transgressions nor your sins. 20. If
ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange
gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and
consume you, after that he hath done you
good. 21. And the people said unto Josh-
99
JOSHUA
ua, Nay, but we will serve the Lord. 22.
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are
witnesses against yourselves that ye have
chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And
they said, We are witnesses. 23. Now
therelore put away, said he , the strange
gods which are among you, and incline your
heart unto the Lord God of Israel. 24.
And the people said unto Joshua, the Lord
our God will we serve, and his voice will
we obey. 25. So Joshua made a covenant
with the people that day, and set them a
statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26.
And Joshua wrote these words in the book
of the law of God, and took a great stone,
and set it up there under an. oak, that was
by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27. And
Joshua said unto all the people, Behold,
this stone shall be a witness unto us ; for
it hath heard all the words of the Lord
which he spake unto us : it shall be there¬
fore a witness .unto you, lest ye deny your
God. 28. So Joshua let the people depart,
every man unto his inheritance.
Never was any treaty carried on with better
management, nor brought to a better issue, than
this of Joshua’s with the people, to engage them to
serve God; the manner of his dealing with them
shows him to be in earnest, and that his heart was
much upon it, to leave them under all possible obli¬
gations to cleave to Him, particularly the obligation
of a- choice, and of a covenant.
I. Would it be any obligation upon them, if they
made the service of God their choice — he here puts
them to their choice; not as if it were antecedently
indifferent whether they served God or no, or as if
they were at their liberty to refuse his service, but
because it would have a great influence upon their
perseverance in religion, if they embraced it with
the reason of men, and with the resolution of men.
These two things he here brings them to.
1. He brings them to embrace their religion ra¬
tionally and intelligently, for it is a re sonable ser¬
vice. The will of man is apt to glory in its native
liberty, and, in a jealousy for the honour of that,
adheres with most pleasure to that which is its own
choice, and is not imposed upon it; therefore it is
God’s will that this service should be, not our
chance, or a force upon us, but our choice. Accord¬
ingly,
(1.) Joshua fairly puts the matter to their choice,
v. 15. Where, [i.] He proposes the candidates
that stand for the election. The 1 <ord, Jehovah,
on one side, and on the other side, either the gods
of their ancestors, which would pretend to recom¬
mend themselves to these that were fond of antiqui¬
ty, and that which was received by tradition from
their fathers, or the gods of their jieighbours, the
Amorites, in whose land they dwelt, which would
insinuate themselves into the affections of those that
were complaisant and fond of good fellowship. [2. ]
He supposes there were those to whom, upon some
account or other, it would seem evil to serve the
Lord. There are prejudices and objections which
some people raise against religion, which, with
those that are inclined to the world and the flesh,
have great force. It seems evil to them, hard and
unreasonable, to be obliged to deny themselves,
mortify the flesh, take up their cross, &c. But be-
, XXIV.
ing in a state of .probation, it is fit there should be
some difficulties in the way, else there were no
trial. [3.] He refers it to themselves, “ Choose
you whom ye will serve, choose this day, now th'.t
the matter is laid thus plainly before you, speedily
bring it to a head, and do not stand hesitating.”
Elijah, long after this, referred the decision cf the
controversy between Jehovah and Baal to the con¬
sciences of those with whom he was treating, 1
Kings 18. 21. Joshua’s putting off the matter here to
this issue, plainly intimates two things, First, That
it is the will of God we should every one of us make
religion our serious and deliberate choice. Let us
state the matter impaitially to ourselves, weigh
things in an even bal nee, and then determine ft r
that which we find to be really true and good. Lot
us resolve on a life of serious godliness, not merelv
because we know no other way, but because really,
upon search, we find no better. Secondly, That
religion has so much self-evident reason and right¬
eousness on its side, that it may safely be refei red
to every man that allows himself a free thought,
either to choose or refuse it; for the merits of the
cause are so plain, that no considerate man can do
otherwise but choose it. The case is so clear that
it determines itself. Perhaps Joshua designed, bv
putting them to their choice, thus to try if there
were any among them, who, upon so fair an occa¬
sion given, would show a coolness and indifference
toward the service of God; whether they would de¬
sire time to consider and consult their friends,
before they gave in an answer; that if any such
should appear, they might set a mark upon them,
and warn the rest to avoid them. [4.] He directs
their choice in this matter, by an open declaration
of his own resolutions. “ But as for me and my
house, whatever you do, we willseri'e the Lord, and
I hope you will all be cf the same mind.” Here he
resolves, First, For himself; As forme, I will serve
the Lord. Note, The service of God is nothing
below the greatest of men; it is so far from being a
diminution and disparagement to princes and those
of the first rank to be religious, that it is their great¬
est honour, and adds the brightest crown of glory
to them. Observe how positive he is, “I will serve
God. ” It is no abridgment of our liberty to bind
ourselves with a bond to God.” Secondly, For his
house, that is, his family, his children, and servants,
such as were immediately under his eye and care,
his inspection and influence. Joshua was a ruler, a
judge in Israel, yet he will not make his necessary
application to public affairs an excuse for the neg¬
lect of family-religion. Those that have the charge
of many families, as magistrates and ministers, must
take special care of their own, 1 Tim. 3. 4, 5. 1
and my house will serve God.
1. “Not my house, without me.” He would net
engage them to that work, which he would not set
his own hand to. As some who would have their chil¬
dren and servants good, but will not be so them¬
selves; that is, they would have them go to heaven,
but intend to go to hell themselves. 2. “Not 7,
without my house.” He supposes he might be for¬
saken by his people, but in his house, where his
authority was greater, and more immediate, there
he would overrule. Note, When we cannot bring
as many as we would to the service of God, we must
bring as many as we can, and extend our endea¬
vours to the utmost sphere of our activity; if we
cannot reform the land, let us put away iniquity far
from our own tabernacle. 3. “ First, I, and then
my house.” Note, Those that lead and rule in
other things, should be first in the service of Gcd,
and go before in the best things. Lastly, He resolves
to do this, whatever others did. Though all the
families of Israel should revolt from God, and serve
idols, yet Joshua and his family will steadfastly ad
100 JOSHUA
here to the God of Israel. 'Note, Those that resolve
to serve God, must not mind beifig singular in it,
nor be drawn by the crowd to forsake his service.
Those that are bound for heaven, must be willing
to swim against the stream, and must not do as the
most do, but as the best do.
(2. ) The matter being thus put to their choice,
they immediately determine it by a free, ra¬
tional, and intelligent, declaration, for the God of
Israel, against all competitors whatsoever, v. 16* •
18. Here, [1.] They concur with Joshua in this
resolution, being influenced by the example of so |
great a man, who had been so great a blessing to
them, v. 18, We also will serx>e the Lord. See
how much good great men might do, if they were but
zealous in religion, by their influence on their infe¬
riors. [2.] They startle at the thought of aposta¬
tising from God, v. 16. God forbid l the word
intimates the greatest dread and detestation ima¬
ginable; “ Far be it, far be it from us, that we or
our’s should ever forsake the Lord to seive other
gods. We must be lost to all sense of justice, grati¬
tude, and honour, ere we can harbour the least
thought of such a thing.” Thus must cur hearts
rise against all temptations to desert the service of
God: Get thee behind me, Satan. [3.] They give
very substantial reasons for their choice, to show
that they did not make it purely in compliance to
Joshua, but from a full conviction of the reasonable¬
ness and equity of it. They make this choice for,
and in consideration, First, Of the many great and
very kind things God had done for them, bringing
them out of Lgyfit through the wilderness into Ca¬
naan, v. 17, 18. Thus they repeat to themselves
Joshua’s sermon, and then express their sincere com¬
pliance with the intentions of it. Secondly, Of the
relation they stood in to God, and his covenant with
them, “ We will serve the Lord, v. IS, for he is our
God, who has graciously engaged himself by pro¬
mise to us, and to whom we have by solemn vow
engaged ourselves.”
2. He brings them to embrace their religion reso¬
lutely, and to express a full purpose of heart to
cleave to the Lord. Now that he has them in a
good mind, he follows his blow, and drives the nail
to the head, that it might, if possible, be a nail in a
sure place. Fast bind, fast find.
(1. ) In order to this he sets before them the diffi¬
culties of religion, and that in it, which might be
thought discouraging, v. 19, 20. Ye cannot serve \
the Lord, for he is a holy God, or as it is in the He¬
brew, he is the holy Gods, intimating the mystery j
of the Trinity, three in one; holy, holy, holy, holy ;
Father, holy Son, holy Spirit. He will not forgive.
And if ye forsake him, he will do you hurt. Cer¬
tainly Joshua does not intend hereby to deter them
from the service of God as impracticable and dan¬
gerous. But, [1.] He perhaps intends to represent
here the suggestions of seducers, who tempted |
Israel from their God, and from the serv ice of him, |
with such insinuations as these; that he was a hard
master, his work impossible to be done, and he
not to be pleased, and if displeased, implacable
and revengeful; that he would confine their respects :
to himself only, and would not suffer them to show
the least kindness for any other, and that herein he
was very unlike the gods of the nations, which
were easy, and neither holy nor jealous. It is pro¬
bable that this was then commonly objected against j
the Jewish religion, as it has all along been the arti¬
fice of Satan ever since he tempted our first parents,
thus to misrepresent God and his laws, as harsh
and severe; and Joshua by his tone and manner of
speaking might make them perceive he intended it
as an objection, and would put it to them how they
would keep their ground against the force of it. Or,
[2.] He thus expresses his godly jealousy over
, XXIV.
them, and his fear concerning them, that, notwith¬
standing the professions they now made of zeal for
God and his service, they would afterward draw
back, and if they did, they would find him just and
jealous to avenge it. Or, [3.] He resolves to let
them know the worst of it, and what strict terms
they must expect to stand upon with God, that
they might sit down and count the cost.- “ 1 e can¬
not serve the Lord, except you put away all other
gods, for he is holy and jealous, and will by no means
admit a rival, and therefore you must be very
watchful and careful, for it is at your peril, if you
desire hjs service; better you had never known it.”
Thus though our Master has assured us that his
yoke is easy, yet lest, upon the presumption of that,
we should grow remiss and careless, he has also t Id
us that the gate is straight, and the way narrow,
that leads to life, that we may therefore strive to
enter, and not seek only. “ You cannot serve God
and mammon ; therefore if you resOlv e to serve G< d,
you must renounce all competitois with him. You
cannot serve God in your own strength, nor will he
forgive your transgressions for any righteousness of
your own; but all the seed of Israel must be jits /fed
and must glory in the Lord alone, as their righte¬
ousness and strength, Isa. 45. 24, 25. They must
therefore come off from all confidence in their own
sufficiency, else their purposes woidd be to no pur¬
pose. Or, [4.] Joshua thus urges on them the
seeming discouragements which lay in their way,
that he might sharpen their resolutions, and draw
from them a promise yet more expiessand solemn,
that they would continue faithful to God and their
religion. He draws it from them that they might
catch at it the more earnestly, and hold it the
faster.
(2.) Notwithstanding this statement of the diffi¬
culties of religion, they declared a firm and fixed
resolution to continue and persevere therein, v. 21.
“Nay, but we will serve the Lord, we will think
never the worse of him for his being a holy and
jealous God, nor for his confining his servants to
worship himself only. Justly will he consume them
that forsake him, but we never will forsake h;m;
not only we have a good mind to serve him, and we
hope we shall, but we are at a point, we cannot
bear to hear any entreaties to leave him, or to turn
from following after him, Ruth 1. 16. in the
strength of divine grace we are resolved that we
will serve the Lord. ” This resolution they repeat
with an explication, v. 24. “ The Lord our God
will we serve, not only be called his servants, and
wear his livery, but our religion shall rule us in
everything, and his voice will we obey.” And in
vain do we call him Master and Lord, if we do not
the things which he saith, Luke 6. 46. This last
promise they make, in answer to the charge Joshua
gave them, v. 23. that, in order to their perseve¬
rance, they should, [1.] Put away the images and
relics of the strange gods, and not keep any of the
tokens of those other lov ers in their custody, if they
resolv ed their Maker should he their Husband ; they
promise in this to obey his voice. [2.] That they
should incline their hearts to the Goa of Israel, use
their authority over their own hearts to engage
them for God, not only to set their affections upon
him, but to settle them so. These terms they
agreed to, and thus, as Joshua explains the
bargain, they strike it, The Lord our God will we
serve.
II. The service of God being thus made their de¬
liberate choice, Joshua binds them to it by a solemn
covenant, v. 25. Moses had twice publicly ratified %
this covenant between God and Israel, at mount
Sinai, Exod. 24. and in the plains of Moab, Dent.
29. 1. Joshua had likewise done it once, ch. 8. 31,
8c c. and now the second time. It is here called a
JOSHUA
statute and an ordinance, because of the strength
and perpetuity of its obligation; and because even
this covenant bound them to no more than what
they were antecedently bound to by the divine com¬
mand.
Now, to give it the formalities of a covenant, 1.
He calls witnesses, no other than themselves, v. 22,
Ye are witnesses that ye have chosen the Lord; he
promises himself that they would never forget the
solemnities of this day, but if hereafter they should
break this covenant, he assures them that the pro¬
fessions and promises they had now made, would
certainly rise up in judgment against them, and
condemn them; and they agreed to it, “ We are
witnesses ; let us be judged out of our own mouths,
if ever we be false to our God.” 2. He put it in
writing, and inserted it, as we find it here, in the
sacred canon; he wrote it in the book of the law, v.
26. in that original which was laid up in the side of
the ark, and from thence, probably, it was trans¬
cribed into the several copies which the princes had
for the use of each tribe. There it was written,
that their obligation to religion by the divine pre¬
cept, and that by their own promise, might remain
on record together. 3. He erected a memorandum
of it, for the benefit of those who perhaps were not
conversant with writing, v. 26, 27. He set up a
great stone wider an oak, as a monument of this co¬
venant, and perhaps wrote an inscription upon it,
(by which stones are made to speak,) signifying the
intention of it. When he says, It had heard what
was past, he tacitly upbraids the people with the
hardness of their hearts, as if this stone had heard
to as good purpose as some of them; and if they
should forget what was now done, this stone would
so far preserve the remembrance of it, as to re¬
proach them for their stupidity and carelessness,
and be a witness against them.
The matter being thus settled, Joshua dismissed
this assembly of the grandees of Israel', v. 28. and
took his last leave of them, well satisfied in having
done his part, by which he had delivered his soul;
if they perished, their blood would be upon their
own heads.
29. And it came to pass after these things,
that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of
the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten
years old. 30. And they buried him in the
border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah,
which is in mount Ephraim, on the north
side of the hill of Gaash. 31. And Israel
served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and
all the days of the elders that overlived
Joshua, and which had known all the
works of the Lord, that he had done for
Israel. 32. And the bones of Joseph, which
t lie children of Israel brought up out of Egypt,
buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of
ground which Jacob bought of the sons of
ITamor, the father of Shechem, for a hun¬
dred pieces of silver: and it became the
inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33.
And Eleazar, .the son of Aaron, died; and
they buried him in a hill that pertained to
Phinehas his son, which was given him in
mount Ephraim.
This book, which began with triumphs, here ends
with funerals, by which all the glory of man is
stained.
, XXIV. * 101
1. Here is Joseph buried, v. 32. He died about
two hundred years before in Egypt, but gave com¬
mandment concerning his bones, that they should
not rest in their grave until Israel had rest in the land
of promise; now therefore, the children of Israel,
who had brought this coffin full of bones with them
out of Egypt, carried it along with them in all then-
marches through the wilderness, (the two tribes of
Ephraim and Manasseh, it is probable, taking par¬
ticular care of it,) and kept it in their camp till
Canaan was perfectly reduced, now at last they de¬
posited it in that piece of ground which his father
gave him near Shechem, Gen. 48. 22. Probably
it was upon this occasion that Joshua called cut fi r
all Israel to meet him at Shechem, (x>. 1.) to attend
Joseph’s coffin to the grave there; so that the ser- •
mon in this chapter served both for Joseph’s fune¬
ral sermon, and his own farewell sermon; and if it
was, as is supposed, in the last year of his life, the
occasion might very well remind him of his own
death being at hand, for he was now just at the
same age that his illustrious ancestor Joseph was ar¬
rived at when he died, one hundred and ten years
old; compare v. 29. with Gen. 50. 26.
Here is the death and burial of Joshua, v. 29. 30.
We are not told how long he lived after the com¬
ing of Israel into Canaan. Dr. Lightfoot thinks it
was about seventeen years; but the Jewish chro-
nologers generally say it was about twenty-seven or
twenty-eight years. He is here called tbe servant
of the Lord, the same title that wras given to Mo¬
ses, ( ch . 1. 1.) when mention was made cf his
death; for though Joshua was in many respects in¬
ferior to Moses, yet in this he was equal to him,
that, according as his work was, he approved him¬
self a diligent and faithful servant of God. And he
he that traded with his two talents, had the same
approbation that he had who traded with five;
Well done, good and faithful sen’ant. Joshua’s
burying place is here said to be on the north* side
of the hill of Gaash, or the quaking hill; the Jews
say it was so called, because it trembled at the
burial of Joshua, to upbraid the people of Israel
with their stupidity, in that they did not lament the
death of that great and good man so as they ought
to have done. Thus, at the death of Christ, our
Joshua, the earth quaked. The learned Bishop
Patrick observes, that there is no mention of any
days of mourning for Joshua, as there were for Mo¬
ses and Aaron, in which, he says, St. Hierom and
other of the fathers think there is a mystery,
namely, that under the law, when life and immor¬
tality were not brought to so clear alight as they are
now, they had reason to mourn and weep for the
death of their friends; but now that Jesus, our Josh¬
ua, has opened the kingdom of heaven, we mav
rather rejoice.
3. Here is the death and burial of Eleazar the
cnief priest, who, it is probable, died about the same
time that Joshua did, as Aaron in the same year
with Moses, v. 33. The Jews sav that Eleazar, a
little before he died, called the elders together, and
gave them a charge as Joshua had done. He was
buried in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son,
which came to him, not by descent, for then it
would have pertained to his father first, nor had
the priests any cities in mount Ephraim; but either
it fell to him by marriage, as the Jews conjecture,
or it was freely bestowed upon him, to build a
countrv-seat on, by some pious Israelite, that was
well-affected to the priesthood, for it is here said
to be given him; and there he buried his dear fa¬
ther.
Last lit. We have a general idea given us of the
state of Israel at this time, v. 31. While Joshua
lived, religion was kept up among them under his
care and influence; but soon after he and his con-
JUDGES, 1.
temporaries died, it went to decay, so much often¬
times does one head hold up: how well is it for the
gospel church, that Christ, our Joshua, is still with
it, by his Spirit, and will be always, even unto the
end of the world!
AN
EXPOSITION,
WITH
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS,
UPON THE BOOK OF
JUDGES.
This is called in the Hebrew Shcfiher Shophtim, the Book of Judges, which the Syriac and Arabic ver¬
sions enlarge upon, and call it, The Book of the Judges of the children of Israel; the judgments of that
nation being peculiar, so were their judges, whose office differed vastly from that of the Judges of our
nations. The LXX entitle it only KfiT*i, Judges. It is the history of the commonwealth of Israel,
during the government of the Judges from Othniel to Eli; so much of it as God saw fit to transmit to
us. It contains the history (according to Dr. Lightfoot’s computation) of two hundred and ninety-nine
years; reckoning to Othniel of Judah, forty years; to Ehud of Benjamin, eighty years; to Barak of
Naphtali, forty years; to Gideon of Manasseh, forty years; to Abimelech his son, three years; to Tola
of Issachar, twenty-three; to Jair of Manasseh, twenty-two; to Jephthah of Manasseh, six; to Ibzan of
Judah, seven; toElon of Zebulon, ten; to Abdon of Ephraim, eight; to Samson of Dan, twenty; in all
two hundred and ninety-nine. As for the years of their servitude, as where Eglon is said to oppress
them eighteen years, and Jabin twenty years, and so some others, those must be reckoned to fall in
with some or other of the years of the Judges. The judges here appear to have been of eight several
tribes; that honour was thus diffused, until at last it centered in Judah. Eli and Samuel, the two Judges
that fell not within this book, were of Levi. It seems, there was no Judge of Reuben or Simeon, Gad or
Asher. The history of these Judges in their order we have in this book, to the end of ch. 16. And then
in the five last chapters we have an account of some particular memorable events which happened, as
the story of Ruth did, (Ruth 1. 1.) in the days when the Judges ruled, but it is not certain in which
Judge’s days; but they are put together at the end of the book, that the thread of the general history
might not be interrupted. Now as to the state of the commonwealth of Israel during this period.
I. They do not appear here either so great or so good as one might have expected the character of such
a peculiar people should have been; that were governed by such laws, and enriched by such promises.
We find them wretchedly corrupted and wretchedly oppressed, by their neighbours about them, and
no where in all the book, either in war or council, do they make any figure proportionable to theii
glorious entry into Canaan. What shall we say to it? God would hereby show us the lamentable im¬
perfection of all persons and things under the sun, that we may look for complete holiness and happi¬
ness in the other world, and not in this. Yet,
II. We may hope that though the historian in this book enlarges most upon their provocations and griev¬
ances, yet there was a face of religion upon the land; and however there were those among them, that
were drawn aside to idolatry, yet the tabernacle-service, according to the law of Moses, was kept up,
and there were many that attended it. Historians record not the common course of justice and com¬
merce in a nation, taking that for granted, but only the wars and disturbances that happen; but the
reader must consider the other, to balance the blackness of them.
III. It should seem that in these times each tribe had very much its government in ordinary within it¬
self, and acted separately, without one common head, or council, which occasioned many differences
among themselves, and kept, them from being or doing any thing considerable.
IV. The government of the Judges was not constant, but occasional, when it is said that after Fluid's
victory the land rested eighty years, and after Barak’s forty, it is not certain that thev lived, much less
that they governed, so long; but they and the rest were raised up and animated by the spirit of God to
do particular service to the public when there was occasion, to avenge Israel of their enemies, and t ■
purge Israel of their idolatries, which are the two things principally meant by their judging Israel. Ye
Deborah, as a prophetess, was attended for judgment by all Israel, before there was occasion for her
agency in war, ch. 4. 4.
JUDGES, J. 103
V. During the go\ eminent of the Judges, God was in a more especial manner Israel’s king, so Samuel
tells them when they were resolved to throw eft' this form cf government, 1 Sam. 12. 12. Gcd would
try what his own law and the constitutions of that would do to ki ep them in order, and it proved that
when there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his oun eyes; lie therefore,
toward the latter end of this time, made the government of the judges more constant and universal
than it was at first, and at length gave them David, a king after his own heart; then, and not till then,
Israel began to flourish; which should make us very thankful for magistrates both supreme and subor¬
dinate, for they are ministers of God unto us for good. Four of the Judges of Israel are here canon¬
ized, Heb. 11. 32. Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah. The learned Bishop Patrick thinks the
prophet Samuel was the penman of this Book.
JUDGES, I.
CHAP. 1.
This chapter gives us a particular account of what sort of
progress the several tribes of Israel made in the reducing
of Canaan after the death of Joshua. He did (as we say )
break the neck of that great work, and put it into such a
posture, that they might easily have perfected it in due
time, if they had not been wanting to themselves; what
they did in order hereunto, and wherein they come short,
we are here told. I. The united tribes of Judah and
Simeon did bravely. 1. God appointed Judah to begin,
v. 1, 2. 2. Judah took Simeon to act in conjunction
with him, v. 3. 3. They succeeded in their enterprises
against Bezek, (v. 4. 7.) Jerusalem, (v. 8.) Hebron and
Debir, (v. 9. . 15.) Hormah, Gaza, and other places, v.
17, 19. 4. Yet where there were chariots of iron, their
hearts failed them, v. 19. , Mention is made of the ICen-
ites settling among them, v. 16. II. The other tribes,
in comparison with these, acted a cowardly part. 1. Ben¬
jamin failed, v. 21. 2. The house of Joseph did well
against Beth-el, (v. 22. 26.) but in other places did not
improve their advantages, nor Manasseh, (v. 27. 28. ) nor
Ephraim, v. 29. 3. Zehulun spared the Canaanites, v. 30.
4. Ashur truckled worse than any of them to the Canaan¬
ites, v. 31, 32. 5. Naphtali was kept out of the full pos¬
session of several of his cities, v. 33. 6. Dan was straitened
by the Amorites, v. 34. No account is given of lssachar,
nor of the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan.
1. VTOW, after the death of Joshua, it
X nI came to pass, that the children of
Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall
go up for us against the Canaanites first, to
tight against them ? 2. And the Lord said,
Judah shall go up : behold, 1 have delivered
the land into his hand. 3. And Judah said
unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me
into my lot, that we may fight against the
Canaanites ; and I likewise will go up with
thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with
him. 4. And Judah went up ; and the
Lord delivered the Canaanites and the
Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of
them in Bezek ten thousand men. 5. And
they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek ; and they
fought against him, and they slew the Ca¬
naanites and the Perizzites. G. But Adoni-
bezek fled: and they pursued after him, and
caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his
great toes. 7. And Adoni-bezek said, three¬
score and ten kings, having their thumbs and
their great toes cut off, gathered their meat,
under my table : as 1 have done, so God
hath requited me. And they brought him to
Jerusalem, and there he died. 8. Now the
children of Judah had fought against Jeru- 1
salem, and had taken it, 'and smitten it with j
the edge of the sword, and set the city
on fire.
Here,
I. The children of Israel consult the oracle of
God for direction, which of all the tribes should
first attempt to clear their country of the Canaan¬
ites, and to animate and encourage the rest. It was
after the death of Joshua: while he lived, he direct¬
ed them, and all the tribes were obedient to him;
but when he died, he left no successor in the same
authority that he had had: but the people must con¬
sult the breast-plate of judgment, and thence re¬
ceive the word of command; for God himself, as he
was their King, so he was the Lord of their h< sis.
The question they ask is, Who shall go up first ? v.
1. By this time, we may suppose, they were so
multiplied, that the places they were in possession
of, began to be too strait for them, and they must
thrust out the enemy to make room: now they in¬
quire, who should first take up arms. Whether
each tribe wds ambitious cf being first, and so strove
for the honour cf ;t, or whether each -was afraid of
being first, and so strove to decline it, does not ap¬
pear; but by common consent the matter was refer¬
red to God himself, who is the fittest both tc
dispose of honours, and to cut out work.
II. God appointed that Judah should go up first,
and promised him success; (v. 2.) “ I have deliver¬
ed the land into his hand to be possessed, and there¬
fore will deliver the enemy into his hand, that
keeps him out of possession, to be destroyed. ” And
why must Judah be first in this undertaking? 1.
Judah was the most numerous and powerful tribe,
and therefore let Judah venture first. Note, God
appoints service according to the strength he has
given. Those that are most able, from them most
work is expected. 2. Judah was first in dignity,
and therefore must be first in duty. He it is, whom
his brethren must praise, and therefore he it is, who
must lead in perilous services. Let the burthen of
honour and the burthen of work go together. 3.
Judah was first served; the lot came up for Judah
first, and therefore Judah must first fight. 4. Judah
was the tribe out of which our Lord was to spring:
so that in Judah, Christ, the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, went before them. Christ engaged the
powers of darkness first, and foiled thfem, which
animates us for our conflicts; and it is in him that
we are more than conquerors. Observe, The service
and the success are put together: “Judah shall go
up, let him do his part, and then he shall find, 1
have delivered the land into his hand.'” His serv ice
will not avail unless God give the success: but Gcd
will not give the success, unless he \ igorously ap
ply himself to the service.
III. Judah hereupon prepares to go up, but courts
his brother and neighbour the tribe of Simeon (the
lot of which tribe fell within that of Judah, and was
assigned out of it) to join forces with him, v. 3. Ob
104
JUDGES, 1.
serve here, 1. That the str1 ngest should not de¬
spise, but desire the assistance even of those that
■ire weaker. Judas was the most considerable of all
the tribes, and Simeon the least considerable, and
yet Judah begs Simeon’s' friendship, and prays an
aid from him; the head cannot say to the foot, I
have no need of thee, for we are members one of an¬
other. 2. Those that crave assistance, must be
ready to give assistance; Come with me into my lot,
and then I will go with thee into thine . It becomes
Israelites to help one another against Canaanites;
and all Christians, even those of different tribes, to
strengthen one another’s hands against the common
interests of Satan’s kingdom. Those who thus help
une another in love, have reason to hope that God
will graciously help them both.
IV. The confederate forces of Judah and Simeon
take the field. Judah went up, (x». 4.) and Simeon
with him, v. 3. Caleb, it is probable, was com¬
mander in chief of this expedition; for who so fit as
he who had both an old man’s head and a young
man’s hand; the experience of age and the vigour
oi youth! Josh. 14. 10, 11. It should seem too, by
what follows, that he (x\ 10, 11.) was not yet in
possession of his own allotment. It was happy for
them that they had such a general, as, according to
nis name, was all heart. Some think that the Ca¬
naanites were got together into a body, a formidable
body, when Israel consulted who should go fight
against them; and that they then began to stir when
they heard of the death of Joshua, whose name had
been so dreadful to them ; but, if so, it proved they
did but meddle to their own hurt.
V. God gave them great success. Whether they
invaded the enemy, or the enemy first gave them
the alarm, The Lord delivered them into their hand,
. 4. Though the army of Judah was strong and
bo’d, yet the victory is attributed to God! he deli¬
vered the Canaanites into their hand; having given
them authority, he here gives them ability to de¬
stroy them — put it in their power, and so tried their
obedience to his command, which was utterly to cut
them off. Bishop Patrick observes upon this, that
we meet not with such religious expressions in the
he then writers, concerning the success of their
arms, as we have here and elsewhere in this sacred
history. I wish such pious acknowledgments of the
Divine Providence were not grown into disuse at
this time, with many that are called Christians.
Now, 1. We are told how the army of the Canaan¬
ites was routed in the field, in or near Bezek, the
place where they drew up, which afterward Saul
made the place of a general rendezvous; (1 Sam.
11. 8.) they slew ten thousand men, which blow, if
followed, could not but be a very great weakening to
those that were brought already so very low. 2.
How their king was taken and mortified His name
was Adoni-bezek, which signifies, lord of Bezek.
There have been those that called their lands by
their own names, (Ps. 49. 11.) but here was one
(and there has been many another) that called him¬
self by his land’s name. He was taken prisoner
after the battle, and we are here told how they
used him : they cut off his thumbs, to disfit him for
fighting, and his great toes, that he might not be able
to run away, v. 6. It had been barbarous thus to
triumph over a man in misery, and that lay at their
merov, but that he was a devoted Canaanite, and
one that had in like manner abused others, which,
probably, they had heard of. Josephus says, “They
cut off his hands and his feet,” probably supposing
those more likely to be mortal wounds, than only
the cutting off his thumbs and his great toes. But
this indignity which they did him, extorted from
him an acknowledgment of the righteousness of
find, v. 7. Where observe, (1.) What a great
man this Adoni-bezek had been, how great in the
field, where armies fled before him, how great at
i home, where kings were set with the dogs of his
j flock; and yet now himself a prisoner, and reduced
i to the extremity of meanness and disgrace. See
how changeable this world is, and how slippery its
j high places are. Let not the highest be proud, nor
the strongest secure, for they know not how low
| they may be brought before they die. (2.) What
| desolation he had made among liis neighbours, he
had wholly subdued seventy kings, to that degree
I as to have them his prisoners; he that was the chief
person in a city, was then called a king, and the
greatness of their title did but aggravate their dis¬
grace, and fired the pride of him that insulted over
them. We cannot suppose that Adoni-bezek had
seventy of these petty princes at once his slaves,
but first and last, in the course of his reign, he had
thus deposed and abused so many, who perhaps
were many of them kings of the same cities that
successively opposed him, and whom he thus treat¬
ed to please his own imperious barbarous fancy, and
for a terror to others. It seems, the Canaanites
had been wasted by civil wars, and those bloody
ones, among themselves, which would very much
facilitate the conquest of them by Israel. “ Judah,”
says Dr. Liglitfoot, “in conquering Adoni-bezek,
did, in effect, conquer seventy kings.” (3.) How
justly he was treated as he had treated others. Thus
the righteous God sometimes, in his providence,
makes the punishment to answer the sin, and ob¬
serves an equality in his judgments; the spoiler
should be spoiled, and the' treacherous dealer dealt
treacherously with, Isa. 33. 1. And they that
showed no mercy, shall have no mercy showed them.
Jam. 2. 13. See Rev. 13. 10. — 18. 6. (4.) How
honestly he owned the righteousness of God herein.
As I have done, so God has requited me. See the
power of conscience, when God by his judgments
awakens it, how it brings sin to remembrance, and
subscribes to the justice of God. He that in his
pride had set God at defiance, now yields to him,
and reflects with as much regret upon the kings un¬
der his table, as ever he had looked upon them with
pleasure when he had them theie. He seems to
own that he was better dealt with than he had
dealt with his prisoners; for though the Israelites
maimed him, (according to the law of retaliation,
an eye for an eye, so a thumb for a thumb,) yet
they did not put him under the table to be fed with
the crumbs there; because, though the other might
well be looked upon as an act of justice, that would
have savoured more of pride and haughtiness thai
did become an Israelite
VI. Particular notice is taken of the conquest of
Jerusalem, v. 8. Our translators judge it spoken
of here, as done formerly in Joshua’s time, and only
repeated on occasion of Adoni-bezek’s dying there,
and therefore read it, “they had fought against Je¬
rusalem,” and put this verse in a parenthesis; but
the original speaks of it as a thing now done; and
that seems most probable, because it is said to be
done by the children of Judah in particular, not by
all Israel in general, whom Joshua commanded.
Joshua indeed conquered and slew Adoni-zedek,
king of Jerusalem, Josh. 10. but we read not there
of his taking the city; probably, while he was put-
suing his conquests elsewhere, this Adoni-bezek, a
neighbouring prince, got possession of it, whom,
hav ing conquered in the field, the city fell into their
hands, and they slew the inhabitants, except those
who retreated into the castle, and held cut there till
David’s time, and they set the city on fire, in token
of their detestation of the idolatry wherewith it had <
been deeply infected, yet, probably, not so as utterly
to consume it, but to leave convenient habitations
for as many : s they had to put into the possession
of it.
105
JUDGES, I.
9. And afterward the children of Ju¬
dah went down to fight against the Canaan-
ites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the
south, and in the valley. 10. And Judah
went against the Canaanites that dwelt in
Hebron, (now the name of Hebron before
was Kirjath-arba,) and they slew Sheshai,
and Ahiman, and Talmai. 11. And from
thence he went against the inhabitants of
Debir ; (and the name of Debir before was
Kirjath-sepher:) 1 2. And Caleb said, He
that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it,
to him will I give Achsah my daughter to
wife. 13. And Othniel the son of Kenaz,
Caleb’s younger brother, took it : and he
gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 1 4.
And it came to pass, when she came to him,
that she moved him to ask of her father a
field : and she lighted from off her ass ; and
Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou ? 1 5.
And she said unto him, Give me a blessing :
for thou hast given me a south land, give me
also springs of water. And Caleb gave her
the upper springs and the nether springs.
16. And the children of the Kenite, Mo¬
ses’ father-in-law, went up out of the city of
palm-trees with the children of Judah into
the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the
south of Arad : and they went and dwelt
among the people. 17. And Judah went
with Simeon his brother, and they slew the
Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and
utterly destroyed it : (And the name of the
city was called Hormah.) 1 8. Also Judah
took Gaza with the coast thereof, and
Ashkelon with the coast thereof, and
Ekron with the coast thereof. 19. And the
Lord was with Judah, and he drave out
the inhabitants of the mountain, but could
not drive out the inhabitants of the valley,
because they had chariots of iron. 20.
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Mo¬
ses said : and he expelled thence the three
sons of Anak.
We have here a further account of that glorious and
successful campaign which Judah and Simeon made.
1. The lot of Judah was pretty well cleared of
the Canaanites, yet not thoroughly. Those that
dwelt in the mountain (the mountains that were
round about Jerus dem) were driven out, (y. 9. 19.)
but those in the valley kept their ground against
them, having chariots of iron, such as we read of,
Josh. 17. 16. Here the men of Judah failed, and
thereby spoiled the influence, which otherwise their
example hitherto might have had on the rest of the
tribes, who followed them in this instance of their
cowardice, rather than in all the other instances of
their courage. They had iron chariots, and there-
f ire it was thought not safe to attack them ; but had
not Israel God on their side, whose chariots are
thousands of angels, (Ps. 68. 17.) before whom
these iron chariots would be but as stubble to the
fire? Had not God expressly promised by the ora¬
cle, ( v . 2. ) to give them success against the Canaan-
Vol. II. — O
ites in this very expedition, without excepting those
that had iron chariots’1 Yet they suffered their fears
to prevail against their faith, they could not trust
God under any disadvantages, and therefore durst
not face the iron chariots, but meanly withdrew their
forces, then when with one bold stroke they might
have completed their victories; and it proved of
pernicious consequence. They did run well, what
hindered them ; Gal. 5. 7.
2. Caleb was put in possession of Hebron, which,
though given him by Joshua ten or twelve years
ago, (as Dr. Lightfoot computes,) yet being em¬
ployed in public service, for the settling of the
tribes, which he preferred before his own private
interests, it seems he did not till now make himself
master of; so well content was that good man to
serve others, while he left himself to be served last;
few men are like-minded, for all seek their own,
Phil. 2. 23, 21. Yet now the men of Judah all came
in to his assistance for the reducing of Hebron,
( v . 10.) slew the sons of Anak, and put him in pos¬
session of it, v. 20. They gave Hebron unto Caleb.
And now Caleb, that he might return the kindness
of his countrymen, is impatient to see Debir re¬
duced, and put into the hands of the men of Judah,
to expedite which, he proffers his daughter to the
person that will undertake to command in the siege
of that important place, v. 11, 12. Othniel bravely
undertakes it, and wins the town and the lady;
( v . 13.) and by his wife’s interest and management
with her father, gains a very good inheritance for
himself and family, v. 14, 15. We had this passage
before, Josh. 15. 16* *19, where it was largely ex¬
plained and improved.
3. Simeon got ground of the Canaanites in his
border, v. 17, 18. In the eastern part of Simeon’s
lot, they destroyed the Canaanites in Zephath, and
called it Hormah, destruction; adding this to some
other devoted cities not far off, which they had
some time ago, with that reason, called by that
name, Numb. 21. 2, 3. And this perhaps was the
complete performance of the vow they then made,
that they would utterly destroy these cities of the
Canaanites in the south. In the western part they
took Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, cities of the Phi¬
listines; they gained present possession of the cities,
but not destroying the inhabitants, the Philistines
in process of time recovered the cities, and proved
inveterate enemies to the Israel of God, and no
better could come of doing their work by the
halves.
4. The Kenites gained a settlement in the tribe
of Judah, choosing it there, rather than in any other
tribe, because it was the strongest, and there they
hoped to be safe and quiet, v. 16. These were the
posterity of Jethro, who either went with Israel
when Moses invited them, (Numb. 10. 29.) or met
them about the same place, when they came up
from their wanderings in the wilderness thirty-
eight years after, and went with them then to Ca¬
naan, Moses having promised them that they should
fare as Israel fared, Numb. 10. 32, They had at
first seated themselves in the city of palm trees, that
is, Jericho, a city which never was to be rebuilt,
and therefore the fitter for them who dwelt in tents,
and did not mind building. But afterward they re¬
moved into the wilderness of Judah, either out of
their affection to that tribe, which perhaps had
been in a particular manner kind to them. Yet we
find the tent of Jael, who was of that family, far
north, in the lot of Naphtali, when Sisera tnok shel¬
ter there, ch. 4. 17. This respect Israel showed
them to let them fix where they pleased, being a
quiet people, who, wherever they were, were con¬
tent with a little. They that molested none, were
molested by none. Blessed are the meek, for thus
they shall inherit the earth .
JUDGES, 1.
10G
21. And the children of Benjamin did not
drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jeru¬
salem ; but the Jebusites dwell with the
children of Beniamin in Jerusalem unto
this day. 22. And the house of Joseph,
they also went up against Beth-el: and the
Loud was with them. 23. And the house
of Joseph sent to descry Beth-el : (Now the
name of the city before was Luz.) 24. And
the spies saw a man come forth out of the
city; and they said unto him, Show us, we
pray thee, the entrance into the city, and
we will show thee mercy. 25. And when
he showed them the entrance into the city,
they smote the city with the edge of the
sword ; but they let go the man and all his
family. 26. And the man went into the
land of the Hittites, and built a city, and
called the name thereof Luz : which is the
name thereof unto this day. 27. Neither
did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of
Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach
and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor
and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam
and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Me-
giddo and her towns; but the Canaanites
would dwell in that land. 28. And it came
to pass, when Israel was strong, that they
put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not
utterly drive them out. 29. Neither did
Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that
dwelt in Gezer ; but the Canaanites dwelt
in Gezer among them. 30. Neither did
Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron,
nor the inhabitants of Nahalol ; but the Ca¬
naanites dwelt among them, and became
tributaries. 31. Neither did Asher drive
out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabi¬
tants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib,
nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob :
32. But the Asherites dwelt among the Ca¬
naanites, the inhabitants of the land ; for
they did not drive them out. 33. Neither
did Naphtali drive out. the inhabitants of
Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-
anath ; but he dwelt among the Canaanites,
the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless
the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of
Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.
34. And the Amorites forced the children
of Dan into the mountain : for they would
not Suffer them to comedown to the valley:
35. But the Amorites would dwell in mount
Ueres in Ajalon, and in Shaalbim; yet the
hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so
that they became tributaries. 36. And the
coast of the Amorites was from the going
up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and up¬
ward.
We are here told upon what terms the rest of
the tribes stood with the Canaanites that remained
I. Benjamin neglected to drive the Jebusites out
of that part of the city of Jerusalem which fell to
their lot, v. 21. Judah had set them a good exam¬
ple, and gained them great advantages by what
they did, (a;. 9. ) but they did not follow the blow
for want of resolution.
II. The house of Joseph bestirred themselves a
little to get possession of Beth-el, v. 22. That this
city is mentioned in the tribe of Benjamin, Josh.
18. 22. Yet it is spoken of there, ( v . 13.) as a city
in the borders of that tribe, and it should seem, the
line went through it, so that one half of it only be¬
longed to Benjamin, the other half to Ephraim; and
perhaps the activity of the Ephraimites at this time,
to recover it from the Canaanites, secured it entirely
to them from henceforward, or at least the greatest
part of it, for afterward we find it so much under the
power of the ten tribes, (and Benjamin was none ot
them,) that Jeroboam set up one of his calves in it.
In this account of the expedition of the Ephraimites
against Beth-el, observe, 1. Their interest in the
divine favour. The Lord wan with them, and would
have been with the tribes, if they would have ex¬
erted their strength. The Chaldee reads it here,
as in many other places, The word of the Lord was
their Hel/ier, namely, Christ himself, the Captain
of the Lord’s host, now that they acted separately,
as well as when they were all in one body. 2. The
prudent measures they took to gain the city. They
sent spies to observe what part of the city was
weakest, or which way they might make their at¬
tack with most advantage, v. 23. These spies got
very good information from a man they providen¬
tially met with, who showed them a private way
into the town, which was therefore left unguarded,
because, being not generally known, no danger was
suspected on that side. And here, (1.) He is not
to be blamed for giving them this intelligence, if he
did it from a conviction that the Lord was with
them , and that by his donation the land was theirs
of right, any more than Rahab was for entertaining
those whom she knew to be enemies of her country,
but friends of God. Nor, (2.) Are they to be
blamed who showed him mercy, gave him and
his family not only their lives, but liberty to go
wherever they pleased: for one good turn requires
another. But, it seems, he would not join himself
to the people of Israel, he feared them rather than
loved them, and therefore he removed after a colo¬
ny of the Hittites, which, it should seem, was gone
into Arabia, and settled thei’e upon Joshua’s inva¬
sion of the country; with them this man chose to
dwell, and among them he built a city, a small one,
we may suppose, such as planters used to build, and
in the name of it preserved the ancient name of his
native city, Luz, an almond tree, preferring that
before its new name which carried religion in it,
Beth-el, the house of God. 3. Their success; the
spies brought or sent notice of the intelligence they
had gained to the army, which improved their ad-
vantages, surprised the city, and put them all to the
sword, v. 25. But beside this achievement, it seems,
the children of Joseph did nothing remarkable.
(1.) Manasseh failed to drive out the Canaanites
from several very considerable cities in their lot,
and did not make any attempt upon them, v. 27.
But the Canaanites being in possession, were re¬
solved not to quh it, they would dwell in that land,
and Manasseh had not resolution enough to offer to
dispossess them; as if there were no meddling with
them, unless they were willing to resign, which it
was not to be expected they ever would be. Onlv
as Israel got strength, they got ground, and served
themselves, both by their contributions, and by
their personal services, v. 28, 35. (2.) Ephraim
likewise, though a powerful tribe neglected Gezer,
JUDGES, II.
a considerable city, and suffered the Canaanites to
dwell among them, (v. 29.) which some think, inti¬
mates their allowing them a quiet settlement, and
indulging them the privileges of an unconquered
people, not so much as making them their tributa¬
ries.
III. Zebulun, perhaps inclining to the sea-trade,
for it was foretold that it should be a haven for ships,
neglected to reduce Kitron and Nahalol, (v. 30. )
and only made the inhabitants of those places tribu¬
taries to them.
IV. Asher quitted itself worse than any of the
tribes, ( v . 31, 32.) not only in leaving more towns
than any of them in the hands of the Canaanites,
but in submitting to the Canaanites, instead of
making them tributaries; for so the manner of ex¬
pression intimates, that the Asherites dwelt among
the Canaanites, as if the Canaanites were the more
numerous, and the more powerful, would still be
lords of the country, and the Israelites must be only
upon sufferance among them.
V. Naphtali also permitted the Canaanites to live
among them, (x». 33.) only by degrees they got
them so far under as to exact contributions from
them.
VI. Dan was so far from extending his conquests
there where his lot lay, that, wanting spirit to make
head against the Amorites, he was forced by them
to retire into the mountains and inhabit the cities
there, but durst not venture into the valley, where,
it is probable, the chariots of iron were, v. 34. Nay,
and some of the cities in the mountains were kept
against them, v. 35. Thus were they straitened in
their possessions, and forced to seek for more room
at Laish, a great way off, ch. 18. 1, isfc. In Jacob’s
blessing, Judah is compared to a lion, Dan to a ser¬
pent; now observe how Judah with his lion-like
courage prospered and prevailed, but Dan with all
his serpentine subtlety could get no ground; craft
and artful management do not always effect the
wonders they pretend to. What Dan came short i
of doing, it seems his neighbours the Ephraimites
in part did for him; they put the Amorites under ;
tribute, v. 35.
Upon the whole matter, it appears that the peo¬
ple of Israel were generally very careless both of
their duty and interest in this thing; they did not
what they might have done to expel the Canaanites
and make room for themselves. And, 1. It was
owing to their slothfulness and cowardice; they
would not be at the pains to complete their con¬
quests; like the sluggard, that dreamed of a lion in
the way, a lion in the streets, they fancied insuper¬
able difficulties, and frightened themselves with
winds and clouds from sowing and reaping. 2. It
was owing to their covetousness; the Canaanites’
labour and money would do them more good (they
thought) than their blood, and therefore they were
willing to let them live among them, that they
might make a hand of them. 3. They had not that
dread and detestation of idolatry, which they ought
to have had; they thought it pity to put these Ca¬
naanites to the sword, though the measure of their
iniquity was full; thought it would be no harm to
let them live among them, and that they should be
in no danger from them. 4. The same thing that
kept their fathers forty years out of Canaam kept
them now out of the full possession of it, and that
was, unbelief. Distrust of the power and promise
of God lost them their advantages, and run them
into a thousand mischiefs.
CHAP. IL
In mis chapter, we have, I. A particular message which
God sent to Israel by an angel, and the impression it
made upon them, v. ] . . 3. II. A general idea of the
state of Israel during the government of the Judges. In
which observe, 1. Their adherence to God while Joshua
and the elders lived, v. 6 . . 10. 2. Their revolt afterward
to idolatry, v. 11 . . 13. 3. God’s displeasure against them,
and his judgments upon them for it, 14. . 15. 4. His
pity toward them, showed in raising them up deliverers,
v. 16, 18. 5. Their relapse into idolatry after the judg¬
ment was over, v. 17, 19. 6. The full stop God in anger
put to their success, v. 20. . 23. These are the contents,
not only of this chapter, but of the whole book.
!• 4 ND an angel of the Lord came up
l from Gilgal to Bochiin, and said, J
[ made you to go up out of Egypt, and have
brought you unto the land which 1 svvare
unto your fathers ; and i said, I will never
break mv covenant w ith you. 2. And ye
shall make no league with the inhabitants
of this land; ye shall throw down their al
tars : but ye have not obeyed my voice :
why have ye done this ? 3. Wherefore ]
also said, I will not drive them out from be¬
fore you ; but they shall be ns thorns in your
sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto
you. 4. And it came to pass, when the an¬
gel of the Lord spake these words unto all
the children of Israel, that, the people lifted
up their voice, and wept. 5. And they
called the name of that place Bochim : and
they sacrificed there unto the Lord.
It was the privilege of Israel, that they had not
only a law in general sent them from heaven, once
for all, to direct them into, and keep them in, the
way to happiness, but that they had particular mes¬
sages sent them from heaven, as there was occa¬
sion, f r reproof, for correction, and for instruction
in righteousness, when at any time they turned aside
out of that way. Beside the written word which
they had before them to read, they often heu d a
word behind them, saying, This is the wav, Isa. 30.
21. Here begins that way of God’s dealing with
them. When they would not hear Moses, let it be
tried whether they will hear the prophets. In
l these verses we have a very awakening sermon
that was preached to them when they began to cool
in their religion.
I. The preacher was an angel of the Lord, (n. 1.)
not a prophet, not Phinehas, as the Jews conceit;
gospel ministers are indeed called angels of the
churches, but the Old Testament prophets are ne¬
ver called angels of the Lord; no doubt, this was
a messenger from heaven. Such extraordinary
messengers we sometimes find in this book, em¬
ployed in the raised up of the Judges that delivered
Israel, as Gideon and Samson, and now, to show
how various the good offices are they do for God’s
Israel, here is one sent to preach to them, to pre¬
vent their falling into sin and trouble. This extra¬
ordinary messenger was sent to command, if possi¬
ble, their great regard to the message, and to affect
the minds of a people, whom nothing seemed to af¬
fect but what was sensible. The learned Bishop
Patrick is clearly of opinion, that this was not a
created angel, but the angel of the covenant; the
same that appeared to Joshua as Ca/itain of the
hosts of the Lord, who was God himself. Christ
himself, says Dr. Lightfoot: who but God and
Christ could say, I made you to go vfi out of Egypt?
Joshua had lately admonished them to take heed
of entangling themselves with the Canaanites, but
they regarded not the words of a dying man; the
same warning therefore is here brought them by
the living God himself, the Son of God appearing
as an angel. If they slight his servants, surely they
1 o8 JUDGES, JI.
will reverence his Son. This angel of the Lord is
said to come up from Gilgal, perhaps not walking
on the earth, but flying swiftly, as the angel Ga¬
briel did to Daniel, in the open firmament of hea¬
ven; but whether walking or flying, he seemed to
come from Gilgal, for a particular reason; Gilgal
was long their head quarters after they came into
Canaan, many signal favours they had there re¬
ceived from God, and there the covenant of cir¬
cumcision was renewed, (Mic. 6. 5.) of all which it
was designed they should be reminded by his coming
from Gilgal. The remembrance of what we have
recerved and heard , will prepare us for a warning
to hold fast, Rev. 3. 2, 3.
II. The persons to whom this sermon was
preached, were all the children of Israel, v. 4. A
great congregation for a great preacher! They were
assembled either for war, each tribe sending id its
forces for some great expedition, or rather for wor¬
ship, and then the place of their meeting must be
Shiloh, where the tabernacle was, at which they
were all to come together, three times a year.
When we attend upon God in instituted ordinances,
we may expect to hear from him, and to receive
his gifts at his own gates. The place is called Bo-
chim, (v. 1.) because it gained that name upon this
occasion. All Israel need the reproof and warning
here given, and therefore it is spoken to them all.
III. The sermon .itself is short, but very close.
God here tells them plainly, 1. What had he done
for them, v. 1. He had brought them out of Egypt,
a land of slavery and toil, into Canaan, a land of
rest, liberty, and plenty. The miseries of the one
served as a foil to the felicities of the other. God
had herein been kind to them, true to the oath
sworn to their fathers, had given such proofs of his
power as left them inexcusable if they distrusted it,
and such engagement to his service, as left them,
inexcusable if they deserted it. 2. What he had
promised them; I said, I will never break my cove¬
nant with you. When he took them to be his pe¬
culiar people, it was r^>t with any design to cast
them on again, or to change them for another peo¬
ple at his pleasure; let them but be faithful to him,
and they should find him unchangeably constant to
them. He told them plainly that the covenant he
entered into with them should never break, unless
it broke on their side. 3. What were his just and
reasonable expectations from them, v. 2. 1 hat be¬
ing taken into covenant with God, they should
make no league with the Canaanites, who were
both his enemies and theirs. That having set up
his altar, they should throw down their altars, lest
they should be a temptation to them to serve their
gods. Could any thing be demanded more easy?
4. How they had in this very thing, which he had
most insisted on, disobeyed him. “ But ye have not
in so small a matter obeyed my voice.” In con¬
tempt of their covenant with God, and their con¬
federacy with each other in that covenant, they
made leagues of friendship with the idolatrous de¬
voted Canaanites, and connived at their altars,
though they stood in competition with God’s:
“ Why have ye done this? What account can you
give of this perverseness of your’s at the bar of right
reason? What apology can you make for your¬
selves, or what excuse can you offer?” They that
throw off their communion with God, and have fel¬
lowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
know not what they do now, and will have nothing
to say for themselves in the day of account shortly.
5. How thev rriust expect to smart by and by for
this their folly, v. 3. Their tolerating of the Ca¬
naanites among them would, (1.) Put a period to
their victories; “ You will not drive them out,”
savs God, “and therefore / will not;” thus their
sin was made their punishment. Thus they who
indulge their lusts and corruptions, which they
should mortify, forfeit the grace of God, and it is
justly withdrawn from them. If we will not resist
the Devil, we cannot expect that God should tread
him under our feet. (2. ) It would involve them in
continual troubles. “ They shall be thorns in your
sides to gore you, which way soever you turn, al¬
ways doing you one mischief or other.* Those de¬
ceive themselves, who expect advantage by friend¬
ship with those that are enemies to God. ' (3. ) It
would (which was worst of all) expose them to con¬
stant temptation, and draw them to sin. “ Their
gods” (their abominations, so the Chaldee) “ will
be a snare to you, you will find yourselves wretch¬
edly entangled in an affection to them, and it will
be your ruin;” so some read it. Those that ap¬
proach sin, are justly left to themselves to fall into
sin, and to perish in it. God often makes men’s sin
their punishment; and thorns and snares are in the
way of the froward, who will walk contrary to
God.
IV. The good success of this sermon is very re¬
markable — the people lifted ufi their voice and
we/i t, v. 4. 1. The angel had told them of their
sins, which they thus expressed their sorrow for;
they lifted up their voice in confession of sin, crying
out against their own folly and ingratitude, and
wept, as those that were both ashamed of them¬
selves, and angry at themselves, as having acted so
directly contrary both to their reason and to their
interest. 2. The angel had threatened them with
the judgment of God, which they thus expressed
their dread of; they lifted up their voice in prayer
to God to turn away his wrath from them, and wept
for fear of that wrath. They relented upon this
alarm, and their hearts melted within them, and
trembled at the word, and not without cause. This
was good, and a sign that the word they heard,
made an impression upon them; it is a wonder sin¬
ners can ever read their Bibles with dry eyes: but
this was not enough; they wept, but we do not find
that they reformed, that they went home and de¬
stroyed all the remains of idolatry and idolaters
among them. Many are melted under the word,
that harden again, before they are cast into a new
mould. However, this general weeping, (1.) Gave
a new name to the place, (v. 5. ) they called it Bo-
chim, Wee/iers, a good name for our religious assem¬
blies to answer. Had they kept close to God and
their duty, no voice but that of singing had been
heard in their congregation; but by their sin and
folly they had made other work for themselves,
and now nothing is to be heard but the voice of
weeping. (2.) It gave occasion for a solemn sacri¬
fice; they sacrificed there unto the Lord, being (as
is supposed) met at Shiloh, where God’s altar was.
They offered sacrifice to turn away God’s wrath,
and to obtain his favour, and in token of their dedi¬
cation of themselves to him, and to him only,
making a covenant by this sacrifice. The disease
being thus taken in time, and the physic adminis¬
tered working so well, one would have hoped a
cure might have been effected. But by the sequel
of the story, it appears to have been too deeply root¬
ed to be wept out.
6. And when Joshua had let the people
go, the children of Israel went every man
unto his inheritance to possess the land.
7. And the people served the Lord all the
days of Joshua, and all the days of the
elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen
all the great works of the Lord, that he
did for Israel. 8. And Joshua the son of
Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being
109
JUDGES, IJ.
a hundred and ten year.; old. 9. And they
Diiiied him in the border of his inheritance
in Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim,
on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10.
And also all that generation were gathered
unto their fathers : and there arose another
generation after them, which knew not the
Lord, nor yet the works which he had
done for Israel 1 1 . And the children of
Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord,
and served Baalim: 12. And they forsook
the Lord God of their fathers, which
brought them out of the land of Egypt, and
followed other gods, of the gods of the peo¬
ple that were round about them, and bowed
themselves unto them, and provoked the
Lord to anger. 13. And they forsook the
Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
1 4. And the anger of the Lord was hot
against Israel, and he delivered them into
the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and
he sold them into the hands of their enemies
round about, so that they could not any long¬
er stand before their enemies. 1 5. Whither¬
soever they went out, the hand of the Lord
was against them for evil, as the Lord had
said, and as the Lord had sworn unto
them : and they were greatly distressed.
16. Nevertheless the Lord raised up
judges, which delivered them out of the
hand of those that spoiled them. 1 7. And
yet they would not hearken unto their
judges, but they went a whoring after other
gods, and bowed themselves unto them :
they turned quickly out of the way which
their fathers walked in, obeying the com¬
mandments of the Lord ; but they did not
so. 18. And when the Lord raised them
up judges, then the Lord was with the
judge, and delivered them out of the hand
of their enemies all the days of the judge:
for it repented the Lord because of their
groanings, by reason of them that oppressed
them and vexed them. 1 9. And it came to
pass, when the judge was dead, that they
returned and corrupted themselves more than
their fathers, in following other gods to
serve them, and to bow down unto them :
they ceased not from their own doings, nor
from their stubborn way. 20. And the an¬
ger of the Lord was hot against Israel ;
and he said, Because that this people hath
transgressed my covenant which I com¬
manded their fathers, and have not hearken¬
ed unto my voice, 21. I also will not
henceforth drive out any from before them
of the nations which Joshua left when he
died ; 22. That through them I may prove
Israel, whether they will keep the way of
(he Lord, to walk therein, as their fathers
I did keep it, or not. 23. Therefore the Lord
left those nations, without driving them out
hastily ; neither delivered he them into the
hand of Joshua.
The beginning of this paragraph is only a repe¬
tition of what account we had before of the people’s
good ch&racter, during the government of Joshua,
and of his death and burial, Josh. 24. 29, 30. Which
| comes in here again, only to make way for the fol-
lowing account, which this chapter gives, of their
! degeneracy and apostasy. The angel had foretold
1 that the Canaanites and their idols would be a snare
to Israel: now the historian undertakes to show
that they were so, and that they may appear the
more clear, he looks back a little, and "takes notice,
1. Of their happy settlement in the land of Canaan.
Joshua, having distributed this land among them,
dismissed them to the qu:et and comfortable pos¬
session of it, v. 6. He sent them away, not cnlv
every tribe, but every man to his inheritance, no
doubt, giving them his blessing. 2. Of their con¬
tinuance in the faith and fear of God’s holy name as
long as Joshua lived, v. 7. As they went to their
possessions with good resolutions to cleave to God,
so they persisted for some time in these good reso¬
lutions, as long as they had good rulers that set them
good examples, gave them good instructions, and
reproved and restrained the corruptions that crept
in among them; and as long as they had in remem¬
brance the great things God did for them when he
brought them into Canaan: they that had seen
these wonders, had so much sense as to believe
their own eyes, and so much reason as to serve that
God who had appeared so gloriously on their be¬
half; but they that followed, because they had not
seen, believed not. 3. Of the death and burial of
Joshua, which gave a fatal stroke to the interests
of religion among the people, v. 8, 9. Yet so much
sense they had of their obligations to him, that they
did him honour at his death, and buried him in Tim¬
nath-heres ; so it is called here, not, as in Joshua,
Timnath-serah. Hercs signifies the sun; a repre¬
sentation of which, some think, was set upon his se¬
pulchre, and ga\e name to it, in remembrance of
the sun’s standing still at his word. So divers of the
Jewish writers say; but I much question whether
an image of the sun would be allowed to the honour
of Joshua, at that time, when, by reason of men’s
general proneness to worship the sun, it would be
in danger of being abused to the dishonour of God.
4. Of the rising of a new generation, v. 10. All
that generation in a few years wore off, their good
instructions and examples died and were buried
with them, and there arose another generation of
Israelites who had so little sense of religion, and
were in so little care about it, that notwithstanding
all the advantages of their education, one might
truly say, that they knew not the Lord, knew him
not aright, knew him not as he had revealed him¬
self, else they would not have forsaken him. They
were so entirely devoted to the world, sq intent
upon the business of it, and so indulgent of the flesh
in ease and luxury, that they never minded the
true God and his holy religion, and so were easily
drawn aside to false gods and their abominable su¬
perstitions.
And so he comes to give us a general idea of the
series of things in Israel, during the time of the
Judges; the same repeated in the same order.
I. The people of Israel forsook the God of Israel,
and gave that worship and honour, to the dunghill-
deities of the Canaanites, which was due to him
alone, Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and won¬
der, O earth! Hath a nation, such a nation, so well
fed, so well taught, changed its God, such a God, a
no
JUDGES, II.
God of infinite power, unspotted purity, inexhausti- '
ble goodness, and so very jealous of a competitor, |
for stocks and stones that could do neither good nor
evil? Jer. 2. 11, 12. Never was there such an
instance of folly, ingratitude, and perfidiousness.
Observe how it is described here, v. 11, 13. In
general, they did evil , nothing could be more evil,
that is, more provoking to God, nor more prejudi¬
cial to themselves; and it was in the sight of the
Lord; all evil is before him, but he takes special
notice of the sin of having any other god. In par¬
ticular, 1. They forsook the Lord ; (x>. 12. and again,
v. 13.) this was one of the great evils they were
guilty of, Jer. 2. 13. They had been joined to the
Lord in covenant, but now they forsook him, as a
wife treacherously defiarteth from her husband.
“ They forsook the worship of the Lord,” so the
Ch ildee: for they that forsake the worship of God,
do in effect forsake God himself. It aggravated this,
that he was the God of their fathers, so that they
were born in his house, and therefore bound to serve
him; and that he brought them out of the land of
Rgyjit, he loosed their bonds, and upon that account
also they were obliged to serve him. 2. When they
forsook the only true God they did not turn athe¬
ists, nor were they such fools as to say, There is no
God; but they followed other gods: so much re¬
mained of pure nature as to own a God, yet so much
appeared of corrupt nature as to multiply gods, and
to take up with any, and to follow the fashion, not
the rule, in religious worship. Israel had the ho¬
nour of being a peculiar people, and dignified above j
all others, and yet so false were they to their own
privileges, that they were fond of the gods of the
people that were round about them. Baal and Ash-
taroth, he-gods and she-gods; they made their court
to sun, and moon, Jupiter and Juno. Baalim signifies
lords, and Ashtaroth, blessed ones, both plural, for
when they forsook Jehovah, who is one, they had gods
many, and lords manv, as a luxuriant fancy pleased
to multiply them. Whatever they took for their
gods, they served them, and bowed down to them,
gave honour to them, and begged favours from |
them.
II. The God of Israel was hereby provoked to j
anger, and delivered them up. into the hand of their
enemies, v. 14, 15. He was wrath with them, for
he is a jealous God, and true to the honour of his
own name; and the way he took to punish them for
their apostasy, was, to make those their tormentors
whom they yielded to as their tempters. They
made themselves as mean and miserable by forsak¬
ing God, as they would have been great and happy
if they had continued faithful to him. 1. The scale
of victory turned against them. After they forsook
God, whenever they took the sword in hand, they
were as sure to be beaten as before they had been
sure to conquer. Formerly, their enemies could
not stand before them, but wherever they went, the
hand of the Lord was for them; when they began
to cool in their religion, God suspended his favour,
stopped the progress of their successors, and would
not drive out their enemies any more, ( v . 3.) only
suffered them to keep their ground: but now, when
they were quite revolted to idolatry, the war turn- !
ed directly against them, and they could not any \
longer stand before their enemies. God would rather |
give the success to those that had never known nor
owned him. Wherever they went, they might per¬
ceive that God himself was turned to be their ene¬
my, ax\<S. fought against them, Isa. 63. 10. 2. The
balance of power then turned against them of
course. Whoever would, might spoil them; who¬
ever would, might oppress them; God sold them
into the hands of their enemies; not only he deliver¬
ed them up freely, as we do that which we have
sold, but he did it upon a valuable consideration, ;
that he might get himself honour as a jealous God,
who would not spare even his own peculiar people
when they provoked him. He sold them as insol¬
vent debtors are sold, (Matth. 18. 25.) by their suf¬
ferings to make some sort of reparation to his glory
for the injury it sustained by their apostasy. Ob¬
serve how their punishment, (1.) Answered what
they had done; they served the gods of the nations
that were round about them, even the meanest, and
God made them serve the princes of the nations
that were round about them, even the meanest.
He that is company for every fool, is justly made a
fool of by every company. (2. ) How it answered
what God had s/ioken. The hand of heaven was
thus turned against them, as the Lord had said, and
as the Lord had sworn; (y. 15. ) i eferring to the
curse and death set before them in the covenant,
with the blessing and life. Those that have found
God true to his promises, may from thence infer that
he will be as true to his threatenings.
III. The God of infinite mercy took pity on them,
in their distresses, though they had brought them¬
selves into them by their own sin and folly, and
wrought deliverance for them. Nevertheless,
though their trouble was the punishment of their
sin, and the accomplishment of God’s word, yet
they were in process of time saved out of their
troubles, v. 16* *18. Where observe, 1. The in¬
ducement of their deliverance. It came purely from
God’s pity and tender compassion, the reason was
fetched from within himself. It is not said, It re¬
pented them because of their iniquities, (for it
appears, v. 17. that many of them continued unre¬
formed,) but, It repented the Lord because of their
groanings; though it is not so much the burthen of
sin, as tne burthen of affliction, that they are said to
groan under. It was true, they deserved to perish
for ever under his curse, yet this being the day of
his patience and our probation, he does not stir up
all his wrath. He might in justice have abandoned
them, but he could not for pity do it. 2. The in¬
struments of their deliverance; God did not send
angels from heaven to do it, or bring in any foreign
power for their rescue, but raised up judges from
among themselves, as there was occasion, men to
whom God gave extraordinary qualifications for,
and calls to, that special service for which they
were designed, which was to reform and deliver Is¬
rael, and whose great attempts he crowned with
wonderful success; the Lord was with the judges
when he raised them up, and so they became
saviours. Observe, (1.) Iii the days of the greatest
degeneracy and distress of the church, there shall
be some whom God will either find or make fit tc
redress its grievances, and set things to rights.
(2. ) God must be acknowledged in the seasonable
rising up of useful men for public service. He en¬
dues men with wisdom and courage, gives them
hearts to act and venture. All that are in any way
the blessings of their country, must be looked upon
as the gifts of God. (3.) Whom God calls, he will
own, and give them his presence; whom he raises
up, lie wiil be with. (4. ) The judges of a land are
its saviours.
IV. The degenerate Israelites were not effectu¬
ally and thoroughly reformed, no not by their
judges, v. 17--19. i. Even while their judges were
with them, and active in the work of reformation,
there were those that would not hearken to their
judges, but at that very time went a whoring after
other gods; so mad were they ujJbn their idols, and
so obstinately bent to backslide. They had been es¬
poused to God, but broke the marriage-covenant,
and went a whoring after false gods. Idolatry is
spiritual adultery; so vile and base and perfidious a
thing is it, and so hardly are those reclaimed, that
are addicted to it. 2. Those that in the times of refor-
Ill
JUDGES, III.
mation began to amend, yet turned quickly out of
the way again, and became as bad as ever. The
way they turned out of, was that which their godly
ancestors walked in, and set them out in; but they
soon started from under the influence both of their
fathers’ good example, and of their own good edu¬
cation. The wicked children of godly parents do
so, and will therefore have a great deal to answer
for. 3. However, "alien the judge was dead, they
looked upon the dam which checked the stream of
their idolatry as removed, and then it flowed down
again. with so much the more fury, and the next
age seemed to be rather the worse for the attempts
that were made toward reformation; ( v . 19.) They
corrupted themselves more than their fathers; strove
to outdo them in multiplying strange gods, and in-
\ enting profane and impious rites of worship, as it
were in contradiction to their reformers. They
ceased not from, or, as the word is, they would not
let fall, any of their own doings; grew not ashamed
of those idolatrous services that were most odious,
nor weary of those that were most barbarous; would
not so much as diminish one step of their hard and
stubborn way. Thus they that have forsaken the
good ways of God, which they have once known
and professed, commonly grow most daring and
desperate in sin, and have their hearts most har¬
dened.
V. God’s just resolution hereupon was, still to
continue the rod over them. 1. Their sin was,
sparing the Canaanites; and this, in contempt and
violation of the covenant God had made with them,
and the commands he had given them, v. 20. 2. 1
Their punishment was, that the Canaanites were
spared, and so they were beaten with their own rod.
They were not all delivered into the hand of Joshua
while he lived, v. 23. Our Lord Jesus, though he
spoiled principalities and powers, yet did not com¬
plete his victory at first; we see not yet all things ;
put under him; here are remains of Satan’s interest
in the church, as theye were of the Canaanites in j
the land; but yet Joshua lives for ever, and will in
the great day perfect his conquests. After Joshua’s i
death, little was done for a long time against the
Canaanites: Israel indulged them, and grew familiar
with them, and therefore God would not drive them
out any more, v. 21. If they will have such inmates
as these among them, let them take them, and see
what will come of it. God chose their delusions,
Isa. 66. 4. Thus men cherish and indulge their
own corrupt appetites and passions, and, instead of
mortifying them, make provision for them, and
therefore God justly leaves them to themselves un¬
der the power of their sins, which will be their
ruin: So shall their doom be, themselves have decid¬
ed it. These remnants of the Canaanites were left
to prove Israel, (v. 22.) whether they will keep the
way of the Lord or not; not that God might know i
them, but that they might know themselves. It ;
was to try, (1.) Whether they could resist the
temptations to idolatry which the Canaanites would
lay before them. God had told them they could
not, (Deut. 7. 4.) but they thought they could; :
“Well,” said God, “I will try you;” and, upon
trial, it was found that the tempter’s charms were
quite too strong for them. God has told us how
deceitful and desperately wicked our hearts are,
but we are not willing to believe it, until, by making
bold with temptation, we find it too true by sad ex¬
perience. (2.) Whether they would make a good
ase of the vexations which the remaining natives
would give them, and the many troubles they would
occasion them, and would thereby be convinced of
sin and humbled for it, reformed, and driven to God
and their duty; whether by continual alarms from
them they would be kept in awe, and made afraid I
of provoking God.
CHAP. III.
In this chapter, I. A general account of Israel’s enemies
is premised, and of the mischief they did them, v. 1 . .7
II. A particular account of the brave exploits done by
the three first of the judges. 1. Othniel, whom Cod
raised up to fight Israel’s battles, and plead their cause
against the king of Mesopotamia, v. 8. . II. 2. Ehud,
who was employed in rescuing Israel out of the hands ot
the Moabites, and did it by stabbing the king of Moab,
v. 12- -30. 3. Shamgar, who signalized himself in an
encounter with the Philistines, v. 31.
1. "VTOW these are the nations which the
Lord left, to prove Israel by them ,
(even as many of Israel as had not known
all the wars of Canaan ; 2. Only that the
generations of the children of Israel might
know to teach them war, at the least such
as before knew nothing thereof;) 3. Namely ,
five lords of the Philistines, and all the Ca¬
naanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites
that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount
Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Ha¬
math. 4. And they were to prove Israel by
them, to know whether they would hearken
unto the commandments of the Lord, which
he commanded their fathers by the hand of
Moses. 5. And the children of Israel dwelt
among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amo-
rites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebu-
sites : 6. And they took their daughters to
be their wives,, and gave their daughters to
their sons, and served their gods. 7. And
the children ol Israel did evil in the sight of
the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God,
and served Baalim and the groves.
We are here told what remained of the old inha¬
bitants of Canaan. 1. There were some of them
that kept together in united bodies, unbroken; (v.
3.) The five lords of the Philistines, namely, Ash-
dod, Gaza, Askelon, Gath, and Ekron, 1 Sam. 6.
17. Three of these cities had been in part reduced,
(ch. 1. 18.) but, it seems, the Philistines (probably
with the help of the other two, which strengthened
I their confederacy with each other from thencefor¬
ward) recovered the possession of them. These
gave the greatest disturbance to Israel of any of the
j natives, especially in the latter times of the Judges,
and they were never quite reduced until David did
I it. There was a particular nation called Canaan-
! ites, that kept their ground with the Sidonians, upon
| the coast of the great sea. And in the north the
Hivites held much of mount Lebanon, it being a re¬
mote corner, in which perhaps they were supported
by some of the neighbouring states. But beside
: these, 2. There were every where in all parts of
J the country some scatterings of the nations; (i>. 5.)
Hittites, Amorites, &c. which, by Israel’s foolish
connivance and indulgence, were so many, so easy,
and so insolent, that the children of Israel are said
to dwell among them, as if the right had still re¬
mained in the Canaanites, and the Israelites had
been taken in by their permission, and only as te¬
nants at will.
Now concerning these remnants of the natives,
observe,
I. How wisely God permitted them to remain.
It had been mentioned in the close of the foregoing
I chapter, as an act of God’s justice, that he let them
remain for Israel’s correction. But here anothei
112
construction is put upon it, and it appears to have
been an act of God’s wisdom, that he let them re¬
main for Israel’s real advantage, that those who
had. not known the wars of Canaan, might learn
war, v. 1, 2. It was the will of God that the peo¬
ple of Israel should be inured to war, 1. Because
their country was exceeding rich and fruitful, and
abounded with dainties of all sorts, which, if they
were not sometimes made to know hardship, would
be in danger of sinking them into the utmost degree
of luxury and effeminacy. They must sometimes
wade in blood, and not always in milk and honey,
lest even their men of war, by the long disuse of
arms, should become as soft and nice as the tender
and delicate woman, that would not set so much as
the sole of her foot to the ground for tenderness and
delicacy; a temper as destructive to every thing
that is good, as it is to every thing that is great, and
therefore to be carefully watched against by all
God’s Israel. 2. Because their country lay very
much in the midst of enemies, by whom they must
expect to be insulted; for God’s heritage was as a
sfieckled bird, the birds round about were against
her, Jer. 12. 9. It was therefore necessary they
should be well disciplined, that they might defend
their coasts when invaded, and might hereafter
enlarge their coast as God had promised them.
The art of war is best learned by experience,
which not only acquaints men with martial disci¬
pline, but (which is no less necessary) inspires
them with a martial disposition. It was for the in¬
terest of Israel to breed soldiers, as it is the interest
of an island to breed seamen, and therefore God left
Canaanites among them, that, by the lesser difficul¬
ties and hardships they met with in encountering
them, they might be prepared for greater; and, by
running with the footmen, might learn to contend with
horses, Jer. 12. 5. Israel was a figure of the church
militant, that must fight its way to a triumphant
state. The soldiers of Christ must endure hardness,
2. Tim. 2, 3. Corruption is therefore left remain¬
ing in the hearts even of good Christians, that they
may learn war, may keep on the whole armour of
God, and stand continually upon their guard. The
learned Bishop Patrick offers another sense of v.
2, that they might know to teach them war, that is,
they shall know what it is to be left to themselves.
Their fathers fought by a divine power, God
taught their hands to war and their fingers to fight;
but now that they have forfeited his favour, let
them learn what it is to fight like other men.
II. How wickedly Israel mingled themselves
with those that did remain. One thing God intend¬
ed in leaving them among them, was to prove Is¬
rael, (y. 4.) that those who were faithful to the God
of Israel, might have the honour of resisting the
Canaanites’ allurements to idolatry, and that those
who were false and insincere, might be discovered,
and might fall under the shame of yielding to those
allurements. Thus in the Christian churches there
must needs be heresies, that they which are fierfect
may be made manifest, 1 Cor. 11. 19. Israel, up¬
on trial, proved bad. 1. They joined in marriage
with the Canaanites, ( v . 6.*) .though they could not
advance either their honour or estate by marrying
with them. They would mar their blood instead
f f mending it, and sink their estates instead of rais¬
ing them, by such marriages. 2. Thus they were
brought to join in worship with them; they served
their gods, (~v. 6. ) Baalim and the groves; (v. 7. )
that is, the images that were worshipped in groves
of thick trees, which were a sort of natural temples.
In such unequal matches there is more reason to
fear that the bad will corrupt the good, than to
hope that the good will reform the bad; as it is
in laying two pears together, the one rotten, and
the other sound. When they inclined to worship
S, III.
other gods, they forgat the Lord their God. In
complaisance to their new relations, they talked of
nothing but Baalim and the groves; so that by de¬
grees they lost the remembrance of the true God,
and forgot there was such a Being, and what obli¬
gations they lay under to him. In nothing is the
corrupt memory of man more treacherous than in
this, that it is apt to forget God; because out of
sight, he is out of mind; and here begins all the
wickedness that is in the world; they have per¬
verted their way, for thev have forgotten the Lora
their God.
8. Therefore the anger of the Lord was
hot against Israel, and he sold them into
the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of
Mesopotamia : and the children of Israel
served Chushan-rishathaim eight years. 9.
And when the children of Israel cried unto
the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer
to the children of Israel, who delivered
them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Ca¬
leb’s younger brother. 10. And the Spirit
of the Lord came upon him, and he judg¬
ed Israel, and went out to war : and the
Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of
Mesopotamia into his hand ; and his hand
prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim. 1 1.
And the land had rest forty years : and
Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
We now come to the records of the government
of the particular judges, the first of which was Oth¬
niel, in whom the story of this book is knit to that
of Joshua, for even in Joshua’s time, Othniel began
to be famous; by which it appears that it was not
long after Israel’s settlement in Canaan, before
their purity began to be corrupted, and their peace
(by consequence) disturbed. And those who have
taken pains to inquire into the sacred chronology,
are generally agreed, that the Danites’ idolatry, and
the war with the Benjamites for abusing the Le-
vite’s concubine, though related in the latter end of
this book, happened about this time, under or be¬
fore Othniel’s government, who, though a judge,
was not such a king in Israel, as would keep men
from doing what was right in their own eyes.
In this short narrative of Othniel’s government,
we have,
I. The distress that Israel was brought into for
their sin, v. 8. God, being justly displeased with
them for plucking up the hedge of their peculiari¬
ty, and laying themselves in common with the na¬
tions, plucked up the hedge of their protection, and
laid them open to the nations; set them to sale as
goods he would part with, and the first that laid
hands on them was Chushan-rishathaim, king of
that Syria which lay between the two great rivers
of Tigris and Euphrates, thence called Mesopota¬
mia-, which signifies the midst of rruers. It is prob¬
able that this was a warlike prince, and, aiming to
enlarge his dominions, invaded the two tribes first
on the other side Jordan that lay next him, and af¬
terward, perhaps by degrees, penetrated in the
heart of the country, and, as far as he went, put
them under contribution, exacting it with rigour,
and perhaps quartering soldiers upon them. Laban
was of this country, who oppressed Jacob with a
hard service; but it lay at such a distance, that one
could not have thought Israel’s trouble should have
come from such a far conn tty, which shows so much
the more of the hand of God in it.
113
JUDGES, III.
IT. Their return to God in this distress. When he
slew them, then they sought him whom before they
had slighted. The children of Israel, even the ge¬
nerality of them, cried unto the Lord, v. 9. At
first, they made light of their trouble, and thought
they could easily shake off the yoke of a prince at
such a distance; but when it continued eight years,
they began to feel the smart of it, and then they
cried under it, who before had laughed at it. They
who in the day of their mirth had cried to Baalim
and Ashtaroth, now that they are in trouble, cry to
the Lord from whom they had revolted, whose
justice brought them into this trouble, and whose
power and favour alone could help them out of it.
Affliction makes those cry to God with importu¬
nity, who before would scarcely speak to him.
III. God’s return in mercy to them for their deliv¬
erance. Though need drove them to him, he did not
the efore reject their prayers, but graciously raised
up a deliverer, or saviour, as the word is. Observe,
1. Who the deliverer was; it was Othniel, who mar¬
ried Caleb’s daughter; one of the old stock that
had seen the works of the Lord, and had himself, no
question, kept his integrity, and secretly lamented
the apostasy of his people, but waited for a divine
call to appear publicly for the redress of their
grievances. He was now, we may suppose, far ad¬
vanced in years, when God raised him up to this
honour; but the decays of age were no hinderance
to his usefulness, when God had work for him to
do. 2. Whence he had his commission, not of
man, or by man; but the Spirit of the Lord came
upon him, v. 10. The spirit of wisdom and cou¬
rage to qualify him for the sen ice, and a spirit of
power to excite him to it, so as to give him and
others full satisfaction that it was the will of God he
should engage in it, the Chaldee says, The spirit
of prophecy remained on him. 3. What method
he took; he first judged Israel, reproved them,
called them to an account for their sins, and reform¬
ed them, and then went out to war; that was the
light method. Let sin at home be conquered, that
worst of enemies, and then enemies abroad will be
more easily dealt with. Thus let Christ be our
Judge and Law-giver, and then he will save us, and
on no other terms, Isa. 33. 22. 4. What good suc¬
cess he had. He prevailed to break the yoke of
the oppression, and, as it should seem, to break the
neck of the oppressor; for it is said, The Lord de¬
livered Chushan-rishathaim into his hand. Now was
Judah, of which tribe Othniel was, as a lion's whelp
gone up from the prey. 5. The happy conse¬
quence of Othniel’s good services. The land, though
not getting ground, yet had rest, and some fruits of
the reformation, forty years; and it had been per¬
petual, if they had kept close to God and their duty.
1 2. And the children of Israel did evil
again in the sight of the Lord : and the
Lord strengthened Eglon the king ofMoab
against Israel, because they had done evil in
the sight of the Lord. 1 3. And he gather¬
ed unto him the children of Ammon and
Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and
possessed the city of palm-trees. 14. So
the children of Israel served Eglon the king
of Moab eighteen years. 15. But when
the children of Israel cried unto the Lord,
the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud
the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-
nanded : and by him the children of Israel
sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
1 6. But Ehud made him a dagger, which
VOL. II. -P
had two edges, of a cubit length ; and he
did gird it under his raiment upon his right
thigh. 17. And he brought the present
unto Eglon king of Moab ; and Eglon wan
a very lat man. 18. And when he had
made an end to offer the present, he sent
away the people that bare the present. 19
But lie himself turned again from the
quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, 1
have a secret errand unto thee, O king :
who said, Keep silence. And all that stood
by him went out from him. 20. And Ehud
came unto him ; and he was sitting in a
summer parlour, which he had for himself,
alone : and Ehud said, I have a message
from God unto thee. And he arose out of
his seat. 2 1 . And Ehud put forth his left
hand, and took the dagger from his right
thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22. And
the haft also went in after the blade ; and
the fat closed upon the blade, so that
he could not draw the dagger out of his
belly; and the dirt came out. 23. Then
Ehud went forth through the porch, and
shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and
locked them. 24. When he was gone out,
his servants came ; and when they saw
that, behold, the doors of the parlour were
locked, they said, Surely he covereth his
feet in his summer chamber. 25. And they
tarried till they were ashamed ; and, be¬
hold, he opened not the doors of the par¬
lour : therefore they took a key and opened
them: and, behold, their lord was fallens
down dead on the earth. 26. And Ehud
escaped while they tarried, and passed be¬
yond the quarries, and escaped unto Sei-
rath. 27. And it came to pass, when he
was come, that he blew a trumpet in the
mountain of Ephraim, and the children of
Israel wTent down with him from the mount,
and he before them. 28. And he said unto
them, Follow after me ; for the Lord hath
delivered your enemies the Moabites into
your hand. And they went down after
him, and took the fords of Jordan toward
Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
29. And they slew of Moab at that time
about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all
men of valour; and there escaped not a
man. 30. So Moab was subdued that day
under the hand of Israel. And the land
had rest fourscore years.
Ehud is the next of the judges whose achieve¬
ments are related in this history, and here is an ac¬
count of his actions.
I. When Israel sins again, God raises up a new
oppressor, v. 12 . . 14. It was an aggravation of
their wickedness, that they did evil again, after
they had smarted so long for their former iniqui¬
ties, promised so fair when Othniel judged them,
114
JUDGES, III.
and received so much mercy from God in their de- !
liverance. What, and after all this, again to break
his commandments! Was the disease obstinate to
all the methods of cure, both corrosives and leni¬
tives? It seems it was. Perhaps they thought
they might make the more bold with their own
sins, because they saw themselves in no danger
erom their old oppressor, the powers of that king¬
dom were weakened and brought low; but God
made them know that he had a variety of rods
wherewith to chastise them, he strengthened Eglon
king of Moab against them. This oppressor lay
nearer them than the former, and therefore would be
the more mischievous to them; God’s judgments
thus approached them gradually, to bring them to
repentance. When Israel dwelt in tents, but kept
their integrity, B dak, king of Moab, that would
have strengthened lrmself against them, was baf¬
fled; but now that thev had forsaken God, and
worshipped the gods of the nations round about
them, (and perhaps those of the Moabites among
the rest,) here was another king of Moab whom
God strengthened against them, put power into his
hands, though a wicked man, that he might be a
scourge of Israel; the staff in his hand, with which
he beat Israel, was, God’s indignation; howbeit he
meant not so, neither did his heart think so, Isa. 10.
6, 7. Israelites did ill, and, we may suppose,
Moab:tes did worse; yet because God punishes the
sins of his own people in this world, that, the flesh
being destroyed, the spirit mav be saved, Israel is
weakened, and Moab strengthened against them.
God would not suffer the Israelites, when they were
the stronger, to distress the Moabites, nor give
them any disturbance though they were idolaters;
(Deut. 2. 9. ) yet now he suffered the Moabites to dis¬
tress Israel, and strengthened them on purpose that
thev might: Thy judgments, 0 God, are a great
deefi. The king of Moab took to his assistance the
Ammonites and Amalekites, ( v . 13.) and that
strengthened him ; and we are here told how they
prevailed.
1. They beat them in the field, they went and
smote Israel, (v. 13.) not only those tribes that lay
next them on the other side of Jordan, who, though
first settled, being frontier-tribes, were most dis¬
turbed; but those also within Jordan, for they made
themselves masters of the city o f halm-trees, which,
it is probable, was a strong-hold erected near the
place where Jericho had stood, for tint was so call¬
ed. (Deut. 34. 3.) into which the Moabites put a ,
garrison, to be a bridle upon Israel, and to secure
the passes of Jordan, for the preservation of the
communication with their own country. It was
well for the Kenites that thev had left this city,
(ch. 1. 16.) before it fell into the hands of the ene¬
my. See how quickly the Israelites lost that by
their own sin, which they had gained by miracles
of divine mercy.
2. They made them to serve, (t>. 14.) that is, ex-
acted tribute from them, either the fruits of the
earth in kind, or monev in lieu of them. They ne¬
glected the service of God, and did not pay him his
tribute; thus therefore did God recover from them
that wine and oil, that silver and gold, which they
prepared for Baal, Hos. 2. 8. What should have
been paid to the divine grace, and was not, was
distrained for, and paid to the divine justice. The
former servitude (7'. 8.) lasted but eight years, this
eighteen; for if lesser troubles do not do the work,
God will send greater.
IT. When Israel prays again, God raises up a
new deliverer, (y. 15.) his name Ehud. We are
here told, 1. Tt was a Bcnjamite. The city of palm-
trees lav within the lot of this tribe, by which, it
is probable, thev suffered the most, and therefore
stirred first to shake off the yoke. It is supposed by
the chronologer, that the Israelites’ war with Ben
jamin tor the wickedness of Gibeah, by which that
whole tribe was reduced to six hundred men, hap¬
pened before this, so that we may well think that
tribe to be now the weakest of all the tribes; yet out
of it God raised up this deliverer, in token of his
being perfectly reconciled to them, to manifest his
own power in ordaining strength out of weakness,
and that he might bestow more abundant honoui
ufion that fiart which lacked , 1 Cor. 12. 24. 2.
That he was left-handed, as it seems, many of that
tribe were, ch. 20. 16. Benjamin signifies the son of
the right hand, and yet multitudes of them were
left-handed: for men’s natures do not always answer
their names. The LXX. say, he was an ambidex¬
ter, one that could use both hands alike, supposing
that that was an advantage to him in the action he
was called to; but the Hebrew phrase, that he was
shut of his right hand, intimates that either through
disease or disuse, he made little or no use of that,
but of his left hand only; and so was the less fit for
war, because he must needs handle his sword but
awkwardly; yet God chose this left-handed man to
be the man of his right hand, whom he would make
strong for himself, Ps. 80. 17. It was God’s right
hand that gained Israel the victory, (Ps. 44. 3.) not
the right of the instruments he emploved.
We are here told what Ehud did for the deli¬
verance of Israel out of the hands of the Moabites.
He saved the oppressed by destroying the oppres¬
sors, when the measure of their iniquity was full,
and the set time to favour Israel was come.
(1.) He put to death Eglon the king of Moab; I
say, fiut him to death ; not he murdered or assassi¬
nated him, but, as a judge, or minister of divine jus¬
tice, executed the judgments of God upon him, as
an implacable enemy to God and Israel. This story
is particularly related.
[1.] He had a fair occasion of access to him; be¬
ing an ingenious active man, and fit to stand befoi-c
kings, his people chose him to carry a present in
the name of all Israel, over and above their tribute,
to their great lord the king of Moab, that they
might find favour in his eyes, v. 15. The present is
called mincha in the original, which is the word
used in the law for the offerings that were present¬
ed to God, to obta’n his favrur; these the children
of Israel had not offered in their season, to the God
that loved them; and now, to punish them for their
neglect, they are laid under a necessity of bringing
their offerings to a heathen prince that hated them.
Ehud went on his errand to Eglon, offered his pre¬
sent with the usual ceremony, and expressions of
dutiful respect, the better to colour what he intend¬
ed, and to prevent suspicion.
[2.] It should seem, from the first, he designed
to be the death of him, God putting it into his heart,
and letting him know' also that the motion was from
himself, by the Spirit that came upon him, the im¬
pulses of which carried with them their own evi¬
dence, and so gave him full satisfaction both as to
the lawfulness and the success of this daring at¬
tempt, of both which he would have had reason
enough to doubt. If he be sure that God bids him
do it, he is sure both that he may do it, and that he
shall do it; for a command from God is sufficient to
bear us out, and bring us off, both against our con¬
science, and against all the world. That he com¬
passed and imagined the death of this tyrant, ap¬
pears by the preparation he made of a weapon for
the purpose; a short dagger, but half a yard long,
like a bayonet, which might easily be concealed
under his clothes, (7;. 10.) perhaps, because none
were suffered to come near the king with their
swords by their sides. This he wore on his right
thigh, that it might be the more ready to his left
hand, and might be the less suspected.
JUDGES, III.
116
[3.] He contrived how to be alone with him; I
which he might the more easily be, now that he
h td not only made himself known to him, but in- |
gradated himself by the present, and the compli¬
ments, which, perhaps, on that occasion, he had
passed upon him. Observe how he laid his plot.
First, He concealed his design even from his own
attendants; brought them part of the way, and then
ordered them to go forward towards home, while
he himself, as if he had forgot something behind
him, went back to the king of Moab’s court, v. 18.
There needed but one hand to do the execution;
h id more been engaged they could not so safely
have kept counsel, nor so easily have made an es¬
cape. Secondly, He returned from the quarries by
Gilg d, (z\ 16.) from the graven images (so it is in
the margin) which were with Gilgal; set up perhaps
by the IVf oabites with the twelve stones which Joshua
had set up there. Some suggest that the sight of j
these idols stirred up in him such an indignation
ag tinst the king of Moab, as put him upon the exe¬
cution of that design, which otherwise he had
thought to have let fall for the present. Or, per¬
haps, he came so far as to these images, that telling
from what place he returned, the king of Moab
might be the more apt to believe he had a message
from God. Thirdly, He begged a private audience,
and obtained it in a withdrawing room, here called
a summer parlour. He told the king he had a se¬
cret errand to him, who, thereupon, ordered all his
attendants to withdraw, v. 19. Whether he ex¬
pected to receive some private instructions from an
oracle, or some private information concerning the
present state of Israel, as if Ehud would betray his
country, it was a very unwise thing for him to be all
alone with a stranger, and whom he had reason to
look upon as an enemy; but those that are marked
for ruin, are infatuated, and their hearts hid from
understariding; God deprives them of discretion.
[4] When he had him alone, he soon despatched
him. His summer parlour, where he used to in¬
dulge himself in ease and luxury, was the place of
his execution. First, Ehud demands his attention
to a message from God, {y. 20. ) and that message
was a dagger: God sends to us by the judgment
of his hand, as well as by the judgment of his
mouth. Secondly, Eglon pays respect to a mes¬
sage from God. Though a king; though a heathen
king; though rich and powerful; though now tyran¬
nizing over the people of God; though a fat un¬
wieldy man, that could not easily rise, nor stand
long; though in private, and what he did not under
observation; yet, when he expected to receive or¬
ders from heaven, he rose out of his seat; whether
it was low and easy, or whether.it was high and
stately, he quitted it, ahd stood up when God was
about to speak to him, thereby owning God his Su¬
perior. This shames the irreverence of many who
are called Christians, and yet when a message from
God is delivered to them, study to show, by all the
marks of carefulness, how little they regard it.
Ehud, in calling what he had to do, a message from
God, plainly avouches a divine commission for it;
and God’s inclining Eglon to stand up to it, did both
confirm the commission, and facilitate the execu¬
tion. Thirdly, The message was delivered, not to
his ear, but immediately, and literally, to his heart,
into which the fatal knife was thrust, and was left
there, v. 21, 22. His extreme fatness, made him
unable to resist, or to help himself; probably, it was
the effect of his luxury and excess; and when the
fat closed ufi the blade, God would by that circum¬
stance show how those that pamper the body, do
but prepare for their own misery. However, it
was an emblem of his carnal security and senseless¬
ness. His heart was as fat as grease, and in that
he thought himself enclosed. See Ps. 119. 70. — 17.
II 10. Eglon signifies a calf and he fell like a fatted
calf, by the knife, ah acceptable sacrifice to divine
(justice. Notice is taken of the coming out of the
dirt or dung, that the death of this proud tyrant
may appear the more ignominious and shameful.
He that had been so very nice and curious about his
own body, to keep it easy and clean, shall now be
i found wallowing in his own blood and excrements.
Thus does God pour contempt upon princes. Now
this act of Ehud’s, 1. May justify itself, because he
had special direction from God to do it, and it was
agreeable to the usual method, which, under that
dispensation, God took to avenge his people of
their enemies, and to manifest to the world his own
justice. But, 2. It will by no means justify any now
in doing the like. No such commissions are now
given, and to pretend to them is to blaspheme God,
and make him patronise the worst of villanies.
Christ bid Peter sheathe the sword, and we find not
that he bid him draw it again.
[5.] Providence wonderfully favoured his escape,
when he had done the execution. First, The ty¬
rant fell silently, without any shriek or outcry,
which might have been overheard by his servants
at a distance. How silently does he go down to the
pit, choked up, it may be, with his own fat, which
stifled his dying groans, though he had made so
great a noise in the world, and had been the terror
of the mighty in the land of the living. Secondly,
The heroic executioner of this vengeance, with
such a presence of mind, as discovered not only no
consciousness of guilt, but a strong confidence in the
divine protection, shut the doors after him, took the
key with him, and passed through the guards with
such an air of innocence, and boldness, and uncon¬
cernedness, as made them not at all to suspect his
having done any thing amiss. Thirdly, The ser¬
vants that attended in the antechamber, coming to
the door of the inner parlour, when Ehud was
gone, to know their master’s pleasure, and finding it
locked, and all quiet, they concluded he was lain
down to sleep, and covered his feet upon his couch,
and was gone to consult his pillow about the mes¬
sage he had received, and to dream upon it, ( v . 24 )
and therefore would not offer to open the door.
Thus by their care not to disturb his sleep, they
lost the opportunity of revenging his death. See
what comes of men’s taking state too much, and
obliging those about them to keep their distance;
some time or other, it may come against them more
than they think of. Fourthly, The servants at
length opened the door, and found their master had
slefit indeed his long slecfi, v. 25. The horror of
this tragical spectacle, and the confusion it must
needs put them into, to reflect upon their own in¬
consideration in not opening the door sooner, quite
put by the thoughts of sending pursuers after him
that had done it, whom now they despaired of over¬
taking. Lastly, Ehud by this means made his
escape to Sierath, a thick wood; so some. v. 26. It
is not said any where in this story, what was the
place in which Eglon lived now; but there being no
mention of Ehud’s passing and repassing Jordan, I
am inclined to think that Eglon had left his own
country of Moab, on the other side Jordan, and
made his principal residence at this time in the city
of palm-trees, within the land of Canaan, a richer
country than his own, and that there he was slain,
and then the quarries by Gilgal were not far off
him. There where he had settled himself, and
thought he had sufficiently fortified himself to lord
it over the people of God, there he was cut off, and
proved to be fed for the slaughter like a lamb in a
larger place.
(2.) Ehud having slain the king of Moab, gave a
total rout to the forces of the Moabites that were
among them, and so effectually shook off the yoke
JUDGES, IV.
of their oppression. [1.] He raised an army imme¬
diately in mount Ephraim, at some distance from
the head-quarters of the Moabites, and headed
them himself, v. 27. The trumpet he blew was
indeed a jubilee-trumpet, proclaiming liberty, and
a joyful sound it was to the oppressed Israelites,
who for a long time had heard no other trumpets
than those of their enemies. [2.] Like a pious
man, and as one that did all this in faith, he took
encouragement himself, and gave encouragement to
his soldiers, from the power of God engaged for
them; (v. 28.) “ Follow me, for the Lord hath de¬
livered your enemies into your hands; we are sure
to have God with us, and therefore may go on
boldly, and shall go on triumphantly.” [3.] Like
a politic general, he first secured the fords of Jor¬
dan, set strong guards upon all those passes, to cut
off communications between the Moabites that were
in the land of Israel, (for upon them only his design ,
was,) and their own country on the other side Jor¬
dan; that if, upon the alarm given them, they re¬
solved to fly, they might not escape thither, and if
they resolved to fight, they might not have assist¬
ance thence. Thus he shut them up in that land as
their prison, in which they were pleasing them¬
selves as their palace and paradise. [4.] He then
fell upon them, and put them all to the sword, ten
thousand of them, which, it seems, was the number
appointed to keep Israel in subjection; (x>. 29.)
There escaped not a man of them. And they were
the best and choicest of all the king of Moab’s
forces; all lusty men of bulk and stature, and not
only able bodied, but high spirited too, and men of
valour, x'. 20. But neither their strength nor their
courage stood them in any stead, when the set time
was come for God to deliver them into the hand of
Israel. [5.] The consequence of this victory was,
that the power of the Moabites was wholly broken
in the land of Israel; the country was cleared of
these oppressors, and the land had rest eighty years,
v. 30. We may hope that there was likewise a re¬
formation among them, and a check given to idola¬
try, by the influence of Ehud, which continued a
good part of this time. It was a great while for the
land to rest, fourscore years; yet what is that to the
saints’ everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan?
31. And after him was Shamgar, the son
of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six
hundred men with an ox-goad : and he also
delivered Israel.
When it was said the land had rest eighty years,
some think it is meant chiefly of that part of the
land which lay eastward on the banks of Jordan,
which had been oppressed by the Moabites; but it
seems, by this passage here, that the other side of
the country which lay south-west, was in that time
infested by the Philistines, against whom Shamgar
made head.
1. It seems Israel needed deliverance, for he deli¬
vered Israel; how great the distress was, Deborah
afterward related in her song, (c/;. 5, 6.) that in the
days of Shamgar the highways were unoccupied,
&c. That part of the country which lay next to
the Philistines was so infested with plunderers,
that the people could not travel the roads in safety,
but were in danger of being set upon and robbed;
nor durst they dwell in the unguarded villages, but
were forced to take shelter in the fortified cities.
2. God raised him up to deliver them, as it
should seem, while Ehud was yet living, but super¬
annuated. So inconsiderable were the enemies for
number, that it seems the killing of six hundred of
them amounted to a deliverance of Israel, and so
many he slew with an ox-goad, or, as some read it,
a plough -share. It is probable that he was himself
following the plough, when the Philistines made an
inroad upon the country to ravage it, and God put
it into his heart to oppose them : the impulse being
sudden and strong, and having neither sword nor
spear to do execution with, he took the instrument
that was next at hand, some of the tools of his
plough, and with that killed so many hundred men,
and came off unhurt. See here (1.) That God can
make those eminently serviceable to his glory and
his church’s good, whose extraction, educatk n, and
employment, are very mean and obs ure. He that
has the residue of the Spirit, could, when he
pleased, make ploughmen judges and generals, and
fishermen apostles. (2.) It is no matter how weak
the weapon is, if God direct and strengthen the
arm. An ox-goad, when God pleases, shall do
more than Goliath’s sword. And sometimes he
chooses to work by such unlikely means, that the
excellency of the power may appear to be of God.
CHAP. IV.
The method of the history of Deborah and Barak, (the he¬
roes in this chapter,) is the same with that before. Here
is, I. Israel revolted from God, v. 1. II. Israel oppress¬
ed by Jabin, v. 2, 3. III. Israel judged by Deborah, v.
4,5. IV. Israel rescued out of the hands of Jabin. 1.
Their deliverance is concerted between Deborah and Ba¬
rak, v. 6.. 9. 2. It is accomplished by their joint agen¬
cy. Barak takes the field; (v. 10. ) Sisera, Jabin’s gem -
ral, meets him; (v. 12, 13.) Deborah encourages him, (v.
14.) and God gives him a complete victory. The army
routed, v. 15, 16. The general forced to flee; (v 17.)
and there where he expected shelter, had his life stolen
from him by Jael while he was asleep, (v. 18. .21.) which
completes Barak’s triumph, (v. 22.) and Israel’s deliver*
ance, v. 23, 24.
1. 4 ND the children of Israel again did
evil in the sight of the Lord, when
Ehud was dead. 2. And the Lord sold
them into the hand of Jabin king of Ca¬
naan, that reigned in Hazor ; the captain
of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in
Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3. And the chil¬
dren of Israel cried unto the Lord; for h6
had nine hundred chariots of iron : and
twenty years he mightily oppressed the chil¬
dren of Israel.
Here is,
I. Israel backsliding from God; They again did
ei'il in. his sight, forsook his service, and worship¬
ped idols; for that was the sin which now most
easily beset them, v. 1. See in this, 1. The strange
strength of corruption, which hurries men into sin,
notwithstanding the most frequent instances of its
fatal consequences. The bent to backslide is very
hardly restrained. 2. The common ill effects of a
long peace. The land had rest eighty years, which
should have confirmed them in their religion; but,
on the contrary, it made them secure and wanton,
and indulgent of those lusts which the worship of
the false gods was calculated for the gratification of.
Thus the prosperity of fools destroys them. Jeshu-
run waxeth fat and kicketh. 3. The great loss
which the people sustain by the death of good go¬
vernors, They did evil, because Ehud was dead.
So it may be read. He kept a strict eye upon them,
restrained and punished every thing that looked
towards idolatry, and keptXhem close to God’s ser¬
vice. But when he was gone, they revolted, fear¬
ing him more than God.
II. Israel oppressed by their enemies. When
they forsook God, he forsook them; and then they
became an easy prey to every spoiler. They alien¬
ated themselves from God, as if he were none of
| their’s; and then God alienated them as none of his.
t
11?
JUDGES, IV.
They that threw themselves out of God’s service,
threw themselves out of his protection. What has
my beloved to do in my house, when she has thus
played the harlot? Jer. 11. 15. He sold them into
the hands of Jabin, v. 2. This Jabin reigned in Ha-
zor, as another of the same name, and perhaps his
ancestor, had done before him, whom Joshua rout¬
ed, slew, and burnt his city. Josh. 11. 1, 10. But
it seems, in process of time, the city was rebuilt,
the power regained, the loss retrieved, and by de¬
grees, the king of Hazor becomes able to tyrannize
over Israel, who by sin had lost all their advan¬
tage against the Canaanites. This servitude was
longer than ei 
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